Ordinance against Vandalism filed

NAGA CITY --- Realizing that there is no existing ordinance against vandals and nuisance graffiti artists in the city, City Councilor Joe Perez last Tuesday (Oct. 22) authored and filed a proposed ordinance prohibiting the defacing, scribbling/writing and or spray painting on walls and fences of public and private buildings, landmarks, monuments and historical structures and works of art, imposing penalties for violations therefore.

Only last week during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Perez in a privileged speech denounced the unabated incidents of vandalism and graffiti painting in many sections of the city with nary a whimper of protest from concerned authorities.

Vandalism is defined by Wikipedia as an action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property. The term includes property damage, such as graffiti and defacement directed towards any property without permission of the owner.

“What we have a law against vandalism is Ordinance No. 2002-056 authored by then City Councilor now former Mayor John Bongat but such law was specifically meant for vandals of Cable TV equipment,” Perez said.

In his explanatory note to his proposed ordinance, the neophyte city councilor said residents, homeowners, and school officials in the city, as well as the general public, are alarmed that vandals, especially in the dead of the night, are again out in the streets defacing private and public buildings and properties that put in the bad light the city’s campaign for cleanliness and orderliness.

In his ordinance, Perez proposes to impose penalty of fine of P5,000, in addition to payment of expenses for restoration of the property vandalized, or one year imprisonment or both.

Perez further explained that although there are government attempts to conceal these eyesores through artworks, such as murals, such intention does not really address the root of the problem, which is the lack of discipline and impending lawlessness.

It is hoped that passage of this local Ordinance will finally put to stop the threatening anarchy in our streets, Perez concluded.