Popular Bookstore ready to file charges vs persons behind defacing of store

The management of the independent bookstore Popular Bookstore said on Wednesday it would press charges against those responsible for the vandalism of the store's facade.

In an interview with GMA News Online, store operator Geraldine Po said they are set to lodge a complaint with the barangay office in Tomas Morato, Quezon City to inform the local officials of the incident and help them find the people behind it. 

“Opo, syempre para rin sa kabutihan… at protection ng iba pa,” Po answered when asked if they would file a proper complaint about the vandalism.

(Yes, of course. We will file a complaint for the benefit and protection of other stores.)

“[But] I will refer to the barangay po muna.. para malaman nila kung ano po ang nangyari,” she said.

(But I will refer this to the barangay first just to inform them of what happened.)

On Tuesday, Po shared on Facebook photos of their bookstore having been vandalized with anti-communist writings in red spray paint. It reads: “NPA-Terrorista!” (New People's Army-Terrorists)

Instead of getting scared, she recalled being "dismayed and exasperated" after seeing the vandalism early in the morning before opening the store. There are CCTV cameras in the area, but the entrance was out of their range. 

This is the first time Popular Bookstore has been targeted for such acts, Po said.

She said she had no idea why bookshops known for carrying progressive, political, and hard-to-find books are being attacked, including the late F. Sionil Jose’s Solidaridad. 

“Bakit sila nangre-red tag? ‘Yun ang palaisipan. Well of course, alam natin ‘yung danger ng pag-red tag diba? Kasi pagkatpos nun meron talagang violence na nangyayari pero hindi dapat ganon. Wag naman pati bookstores,” she said.

(Why are they red-tagging us? That’s the question. Well, of course, we know its dangers, right? Violence ensues after red-tagging. But they should leave bookstores out of it.)

Independent organization Human Rights Watch defines red-tagging as the act of “publicly accusing activists, journalists, politicians, and others and their organizations of being directly involved in the fighting or supporting the NPA.”

Po appealed to the personalities behind the graffiti to engage in reading and understand the motives of their actions. Once “enlightened," she hopes they can find better job opportunities.

“Looking at the bigger picture, meron namang trabahong pwedeng mas disente pa kung mas mapapaunlad natin ang takbo ng ekonomiya. Hindi na kailangan mag-ganyan pa,” she added.

(Looking at the bigger picture, there are other more decent jobs to help our economy. We do not need to be like that.)

The perpetrators behind the graffiti may be held liable for violating the anti-vandalism ordinance in Quezon City. If found guilty, they may be imprisoned for three to six months or fined P1,000 to P3,000, or both.

Despite the attack, Po assured they will not be intimidated and will continue the brand Popular Bookstore is known for.

“We just have to move on kasi una,  ito na yung legacy ng family namin eh. Sayang naman diba? It’s not that sinasabi ko na limpak- limpak ang kita ng bookstore, talagang hikahos din. Pero hindi naman lahat may katumbas na pera,” she said.

(We just have to move on. First, this is our family’s legacy. I won’t let it go to waste. I’m not saying that I earn a lot from the bookstore because we’re also in the red but there are things more valuable than money.) — VBL, GMA News