Workers filmed tearing down the memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia in Valletta, which was placed at the foot of the Great Siege monument in Valletta, said that the order to 'clean' it came from above.
Activists have been putting up the memorial, while workers tear it down, routinely ever since the journalist's assassination. The memorial on the Great Siege monument is situated just outside the law courts, where multiple cases surrounding her murder are being held.
Confronted by a German journalist, and asked why this is being removed, they said they are doing their job.
In a video posted on Twitter by Thomas Datt on Thursday morning, one of the men is heard saying: "We have to clean to memorial," when told that it is a memorial to the murdered journalist.
The man then says "that's a monument."
Asked who gave the order, he said "from above," and "from our department." Asked if it was from the City of Valletta or the ministry, he said "from our department, no I don't know the minister."
He confirmed that he was given a direct order to clean the monument.
He reiterated that they were doing their job when pressed about the issue.
Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said during an interview with Lovin Malta that he has no problem
with there being a monument for Caruana Galizia “if certain sections of society wanted it”, and said that he would not stay cleaning the shrine and would respect it.