Youth group says vandalism to stop if PCOO fund is diverted

A protester vandalizes a road separator along Quezon Boulevard outside the Quiapo Church in Manila. INQUIRER.NET / GABRIEL PABICO LALU

Vandalism on streets and walls during protests will stop only if the proposed 2019 budget of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is allocated to social services, a spokesperson of a youth group said on Sunday.

“The exploited masses shall quit from vandalizing the streets only when the 1.41 billion peso 2019 budget request of the PCOO of Mocha Uson is redirected to broadcast the grievances of the basic sectors of society,” Shara Mae Landicho of Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) said in a statement.

The group made the assurance while admitting that they did not know who the vandals were or why they were defacing public infrastructure.

Vandalism has occurred during demonstrations for years.

Spark made the comment as Filipino netizens discussed vandalism after a portion of Roxas Boulevard was painted over during the Martial Law declaration anniversary rally on Friday.

Celebrity comedienne Ethel Booba took her grievance to Twitter, asking rallyists if they couldn’t express their sentiments without dirtying the surroundings.

“Bandalismo na naman ang iniwan ng mga nagrally. Hindi ba nila kaya maglabas ng saloobin ng hindi dinudumihan ang kapaligiran? Gastos na naman pagpipintura dyan di bali sana kung art ang ginawa nyo. Charot!” she said on Friday.

READ: Ethel Booba slams vandalism during protests

Landicho clarified that Spark members had nothing to do with the vandalized roads.

However, they asked people to understand where young people are coming from, hinting that young people committed the vandalism.

“Sorry for the inconvenience but the youth have despots to oust and a future to secure for themselves,” she said. /cbb