Updated at 11.30am with video clip

Photo: Jonathan Borg

A makeshift memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia in Valletta was cleared of flowers and tributes overnight in yet another act of defiance against the adulation to the slain journalist. 

It is not known who removed the pictures, flowers and candles from the foot of the Great Siege monument.

"The memorial has been wiped out, again. This time with even less care to conceal the hate," one witness told Times of Malta.

By mid-morning, the site was once again filling up with new candles and flowers.

Blogger and lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona, a friend of the late journalist, told Times of Malta: "They're almost doing us a favour because we're placing fresher tributes every time."

Activist Pia Zammit said the tactic to clear up the memorial has become an absurd game.

"They can remove the flowers and candles but the truth remains," she said.

The memorial has been an issue of controversy, with many protests and memorials for the journalists held at the spot.

Another overnight clean-up took place on March 5 but within hours the monument was restored with further candles and flowers in tribute. Likewise, by 11am on Tuesday, passers-by were seen lighting candles at the foot of the monument. 

Read: Caruana Galizia memorial restored following overnight removal

The Civil Society Network had asked the Valletta police to protect the makeshift memorial after Labour councillor Ray Azzopardi filed a motion to remove it. The councillor had said that Caruana Galizia shrine was a defacement of national monument.

Prominent government officials, including Valletta 2018 chairman Jason Micallef, posted disparaging remarks on the murdered journalist over the weekend. 

Ms Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb last October. Three men have been charged with her murder but the mastermind is believed to still be at large. 

Read: To the cowards who cleared Daphne’s memorial...

The monument has doubled up as a shrine to the slain journalist. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina