Teens repaint Kalibo graffiti walls, admit vandalism

BY BOY  RYAN B. ZABAL

Are these names familiar?  Supreme, Herb, Chong, Kalibomb, Smokey and S-P.I.C.? These are infamous aliases spray painted graffiti around the town of Kalibo.

                            PHOTOS AKLAN FORUM JOURNAL

On June 3, policemen and teenagers engaged in a community service to cover the "tags and words" sprayed on the walls. Just days after a dialogue, the vandals started to repaint the walls in Barangay Poblacion with white paint and committed themselves against vandalism in a peace covenant signing.

Chief Inspector Terence Paul Sta. Ana, chief of Kalibo police station, said the community service will be adopted among one of the best practices and initiatives, working in partnership with the local government of Kalibo and the stakeholders. 

Residents and businessmen for the past few months woke up to find their house gates and walls, business establishments vandalized with graffiti. 

Police said the vandalism happened in the evening or in the wee hours of the morning by juveniles or groups riding in motorcycles. 

The Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo also expressed outrage against the culprits of the spray painted graffiti for defacing the Gomburza shrine, school buildings, hospitals, banks, private and public properties. 

“Trip trip lang namin. May grupo kami na gumagamit ng spray paint para mag-vandalized,” one of the members of spray-painted group told this writer while repainting the walls.

Covenant Signing

Policemen, youths involved in vandalism, tri-media and local officials have signed a peace covenant at Kalibo municipal police station on Saturday morning. 

The covenant urged the involved individuals “to refrain from initiating vandalism and public order offences and to encourage other youth not to involve in graffiti painting.”

Sta. Ana said the policemen will educate and influence the youth by creating activities and programs to promote the well-being and enhance their capability as individuals. 

Last May 31, Sta. Ana spearheaded a dialogue with the young people, their parents and police officers to discuss issues on violations of Municipal Ordinance No. 28 series of 1987.

"Sikat ang Kalibo sa Ati-Atihan at sumikat pa dahil sa inyong vandalism. Ang pinakapangit na ginawa ninyo ang vandals sa Gomburza shrine," the police chief told the teenagers in the dialogue.

During the dialogue, the teenagers admitted their role in the vandalism including cars parked along the road. The teenagers, majority of them are skaters, are regularly seen in Kalibo Magsaysay Park and Kalibo Pastrana Park. 

Vandalism is the act of wilful or malicious destruction, injury, disfigurement, or defacement of property without the consent of the owner or person having custody or control. 

The article was originally published by independent online blog Aklan Forum Journal. The unrestricted use in print or radio, publication and distribution of articles are allowed provided the original author and Aklan Forum Journal are credited.