Philippine authorities have launched an investigation after five caskets containing hostile anti-China and anti-communist messages were discovered abandoned across public locations in Metro Manila in the early hours of August 7.
The co-ordinated stunt drew criticism from diplomatic officials and prompted police to track down the masked individuals responsible.
Pre-dawn stunt across multiple cities
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that masked individuals aboard white and gray vans deliberately dumped the wooden caskets between 2am and 4am, according to multiple news reports.
The caskets were recovered in Manila City, Caloocan City, Quezon City and along Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City, near the Chinese Embassy.
Police units, including bomb disposal personnel who conducted precautionary sweeps, found the caskets filled with crumpled papers, red banners with hostile slogans and photographs depicting Chinese President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan.
The PNP said an investigation has been launched to track down the individuals behind the stunt.
PNP officials stated that they are reviewing CCTV footage and treating the incident as a deliberate attempt to generate public alarm and online attention, Inquirer news said in a report.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: P-pop star SB19’s global feats set to earn formal recognition in House
Diplomatic condemnation
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the stunt does not reflect Manilla’s approach to conducting its foreign relations or how Filipinos express criticism or dissatisfaction, even on sensitive political issues.
The DFA emphasised that while the Philippines upholds freedom of expression, that right does not extend to threats of violence or actions that compromise the safety of foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila denounced the stunt as a blatant political provocation, a personal attack and an act of intimidation.
Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng urged Philippine authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Despite the friction, both the DFA and the Chinese Embassy re-affirmed their commitment to managing bilateral relations responsibly.
They also stressed that the provocations of a small group would not derail broader diplomatic stability between the two countries.
READ NEXT: Ex-China top official gets 10-year prison sentence for corruption
Newsjustnews writers 
James Mario Ajero 
Jheruleene Anne Ramos