QUEZON City Police District personnel stand guard on Friday beside one of two abandoned coffins discovered at the Boy Scout Circle in Barangay South Triangle and Welcome Rotonda in Barangay Santa Teresita, Quezon City.
PHOTOGRAPH by ANALY LABOR for DAILY TRIBUNE
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Authorities launched an investigation Friday after five abandoned caskets bearing anti-communist and anti-China messages were found along major roads across the capital region early Friday morning.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) confirmed that the caskets were discovered in Santa Cruz, Manila; Barangay 54, Caloocan City; Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City; and the barangays of South Triangle and Santa Teresita in Quezon City.
Initial investigations revealed masked perpetrators aboard white and gray vans deliberately dumped the caskets between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., police said.
“These caskets contained anti-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and anti-China messages,” the NCRPO said in a statement.
Philippine National Police chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incidents. NCRPO personnel are currently reviewing CCTV footage to trace the vehicles involved.
“This cowardly act will not be left unpunished,” the NCRPO stated. “NCRPO will ensure that the identity of those who are behind these acts will be uncovered and criminal cases will be filed.”
In Quezon City, barangay officials said two men and a woman aboard a white van left a casket containing photos of two individuals at the Boy Scout Circle along Timog Avenue around 3 a.m. Social media users also reported caskets along Rizal Avenue Extension in Caloocan City, Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City, and Santa Cruz in Manila.
Bomb disposal units inspected the caskets, finding banners with slogans such as “Chinese Communist Party Greedy! Salot!”
Meantime, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned the incident, stating that the Philippine government does not condone acts or threats of violence against foreign nationals or diplomatic officials.
“While the Philippines upholds the right to freedom of expression, the DFA stresses that this right does not extend to threats of violence or acts that endanger the safety and security of others,” the agency said, adding that it is coordinating with law enforcement to hold those responsible accountable.
The DFA reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations regarding the safety of foreign diplomats.
