Pro-China banners back

WHODUNNIT? A “Welcome to the Philippines, Province of China” tarpaulin is spotted at Quezon Memorial Circle.—JAM STA ROSA

The Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) Parks Office said it had nothing to do with the tarpaulin calling the Philippines a “province of China” that was found hanging from a park fence along Elliptical Road, Quezon City, on Thursday.

“We only approve the posting of tarpaulins or banners which are related to events sponsored by the park,” Philip Romero of the QMC administration told the Inquirer.

“Any posting concerning events or matters outside of the park’s concerns should be approved first by the Office of the Mayor,” he said.

The tarpaulin was taken down in the afternoon by some men who alighted from a cab, Romero reported.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Tuesday took down another “Welcome to the Philippines, Province of China” banner from a footbridge on Quezon Avenue.

Ares Gutierrez, chief of the Quezon City Public Affairs Department, said that the posting of the banner was not approved by the city government.

On July 12 last year, several banners bearing the same message were put up by unknown groups in parts of Metro Manila. The date marked the second anniversary of the country’s win against China in the West Philippine Sea dispute in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.