Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) slammed the “digital graffiti” that was displayed by the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) on the walls of Camp Crame Tuesday, calling it an “expressive attack” by the artist group.
Instead of using spray paint, the artists used projectors to show a wanted poster with President Rodrigo Duterte’s face on it, which was displayed on the walls of the police headquarters to mark the 34th EDSA People Power Anniversary.
“Although the vandals did not leave any visible mark, the fact that the attack targeted a national historical site on the same day that the country commemorates the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution makes it totally deplorable,” a statement from the PNP-Public Information Office said.
According to a Facebook post by CAP, the lighting of the walls with these digital images was done to “denounce the various forms of human rights abuses carried out by the Duterte administration.”
The post also stated that this was a part of a collective campaign of artists and cultural workers called “Artists Fight Back,” which “aims to expose the government’s accountability for the successive attacks to freedom of expression and public participation,” among others.
On the other hand, the PNP said in their statement that they “lament” this latest “expressive attack.”
“Much as we respect the freedom of the vandals to express their sentiments, we believe this freedom has limits and must not step beyond national interest,” the statement said.
CAP is an organization of Philippine artists and cultural workers that was cofounded in 1983 by National Artist for Cinema Lino Brocka.
