Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso condemned the widespread vandalism that marred key public areas of the city, calling it an insult not just to local authorities but to every Manileño striving to keep the capital clean and orderly.
From Mehan Garden to the Universidad de Manila and all the way to Liwasang Bonifacio in Lawton, walls and public facilities were defaced with spray paint, leaving behind a trail of damage. Moreno described the perpetrators as “mobsters” whose actions have nothing to do with legitimate expression or protest.
“This is not freedom of expression—it is desecration,” Moreno said. “This is a direct affront not only to the City Government of Manila but also to every Batang Maynila who works hard to preserve the beauty and order of our city.”
The former mayor, known for his aggressive cleanup campaigns during his term, stressed that such acts of destruction undermine the efforts of residents, workers, and students who take pride in Manila’s heritage and public spaces.
City officials are expected to launch cleanup and restoration efforts in the affected areas, while authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those responsible.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the capital, where public facilities have increasingly become the target of vandalism during mass gatherings and rallies.
