Vandals hit Cory, Ninoy streamers in Manila

Unidentified persons on Saturday vandalized a number of streamers bearing the faces of the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino and her husband, slain Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., in Manila. Mayor Alfredo Lim immediately ordered the Manila District Police (MPD) to unmask the culprits behind the destruction of the more than 20 streamers that are posted along P. Burgos Street and Ermita. Police Chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez of the MPD-District Special Projects Unit (DSPU) said based on a report from MPD-Station 5 commander Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, the incident took place around 4 a.m., Saturday. A witness identified as Edwin Mendoza, an automechanic, told police investigators that he was at P. Burgos Street near the corner of Ma. Orosa Street in Ermita when he saw six unidentified men tearing down the streamers. Gutierrez said the witness described the men, who fled the scene on foot, as "decent looking." The suspects reportedly ran up to A. Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Manila , where they boarded a waiting vehicle. Lim ordered the posting of the streamers in honor of Mrs. Aquino, who died from colon cancer last August, and her husband, who was assassinated in 1983. Their only son, Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, is running for president under the Liberal Party (LP) banner in next year's elections. - KBK, GMANews.TV