Metro Manila, Philippines – Unidentified men on board vans abandoned caskets with anti-communist and anti-China messaging and edited images of Chinese government officials around Metro Manila early on Friday morning, Aug. 7, the police said
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said five caskets were found in Sta. Cruz, Manila; Brgy. 54, Caloocan; Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City; Brgy. Sta. Teresita, Quezon City; and Gil Puyat, Makati.
It said masked persons on board gray and white vans dropped the caskets off at around 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. They had images of top Chinese officials edited to appear as if dead.
“Greedy! Salot [plague]!,” read the print on a red flag bearing the hammer and sickle, a communist symbol.
“Going home,” read one of the printed messages inside the casket. It is decorated with images of doves and a sunset.
The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines slammed the anti-China caskets around Metro Manila, calling it a “blatant act of political provocation, personal attack, and intimidation and threat, of a most egregious nature.”
It called for an immediate investigation.
“This incident once again shows that there are always people who, out of ulterior motives, spare no effort to stoke hatred and incite confrontation between the Chinese and Philippine peoples. However, their sinister schemes will not succeed,” the embassy said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also condemned the act, describing it as “irresponsible and disrespectful.”
“While the Philippines upholds the right to freedom of expression, the DFA emphasizes that this right does not extend to threats of violence or acts that endanger the safety and security of others,” the department said.
“Such actions do not reflect the Philippine government’s approach to conducting its foreign relations, nor do they represent how Filipinos express criticism or dissatisfaction, even on sensitive political matters,” the DFA added.
The agency said it is coordinating with the PNP in the investigation into the caskets.
“NCRPO [National Capital Region Police Office] is treating these incidents as deliberate acts intended to attract attention, provoke public reaction, and possibly create unnecessary alarm. Police units across Metro Manila have been directed to strengthen vigilance and prevent any similar occurrence while the investigation continues,” the police said.
