Foreigners track down young gang members for tagging house their own

By Paul Rillorta

BAGUIO CITY – What would you do if you find your house tagged, not with the National Statistics Office Census Department but with a name of a gang claiming ownership of the territory where your house is located?

For a family of foreigners now living in the city, they will not let this pass sitting down.

Father and son tandem Charles Niederstandt Jr. and Sr. has found a way to trace the names, schools and addresses of gang members who tagged their house using the internet.

The duo, both of ‘Stop Tagging Others Property’ (STOP) has stepped forward to act on the problem of vandalism in the city which they have learned to love.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan has welcomed this development and acknowledged the effort of citizens like Niederstandt in helping the government in its effort to curb this menace.

Domogan said, “This positive action from residents who are willing to devout their time and resources to be partners with the city in its fight against graffiti and vandalism is very welcome.

He added an anti-vandalism task force will be created to monitor and file appropriate charges to persons caught violating existing ordinances prohibiting unauthorized markings, writings, etchings, drawing, painting, engraving or doing destructive acts either on public or private properties’.

Meantime, Vice-Mayor Daniel Farinas said measures in monitoring the strict implementation of City ordinance Number 41 series of 2008 or the Anti-Graffiti Code of Baguio is underway.

He said his office is now implementing “legislative tracking” on ordinances of the city which includes the Anti-Graffiti Code.

Farinas said, the code makes it unlawful for persons under the age of 18 to possess any graffiti implement while in school grounds, facilities, buildings or structures be it public or private without prior consent of the owner or occupant.

Graffiti implement or material means any aerosol paint container, paint, pen materials, broad-tipped indelible marker, gum label, paint stick or graffiti stick, etching equipment, brush etc.

It also prohibits minors from possessing Aerosol sprays or broad-tipped indelible markers in any public property unless they are accompanied by an adult or a guardian and their possession is for a lawful purpose.

For commercial establishments who sell or display spray paint cans or wide-tipped indelible markers, the code states that they are prohibited from selling these graffiti implements to minors.

Establishments are required by the code to install warnings in clear public view near the display of such products the message “Graffiti is against the law. Any person who defaces real or personal property with paint or any other liquid or device is guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or community service, or a fine not exceeding P5,000.00, or both imprisonment and fine or both community service or fine, in the discretion of the court”.

A sign shall also be placed in the direct view of persons responsible for accepting customer payments for graffiti implements the message “Spray paint shall not be sold to minors.”

Selling spray paint, paint sticks, or broad-tipped indelible markers to persons less than 18 years of age is against the law and punishable by a fine of not less than P1,000.00 but not more than P2,000.00 or imprisonment of not more than one (1) month, in the discretion of the court”.

Farinas said violations of the provisions of the anti-graffiti code for the first offense is imprisonment of one to 10 days or a fine of P1,000.00, or both, second offense is imprisonment of 11 to 20 days or a fine of P3,000 or both and for subsequent offenses is imprisonment for 21 to 30 days or a fine of P5,000 or both.

Any person caught vandalizing or performing graffiti will shoulder the restoration of the damaged property.

For minors caught violating the ordinance, their parents will be responsible for paying the fine and the payment of damages.

Failure of the parents or legal guardian to make payment will result in the filing of a lien to their
property that includes the fine and administrative costs.

The code also states the City Government may offer a ‘reward’ to any person who can give information leading to the identification and apprehension of any person doing graffiti.