Funeral homes prey on Tokhang victims

MANILA, Philippines — Like vultures encircling a carcass, funeral homes are allegedly preying on slain drug suspects in northern Metro Manila, among the hardest hit in the administration’s war on drugs.

After her brother, Edmundo Sedonio, 25, was shot dead by police in an alleged drug sting in Market 3, Navotas, Maine (not her real name) said the family had to grapple with P35,000 for funeral services Ezekiel and Eusebio funeral homes are charging them.

When they transferred Edmundo’s remains to a funeral parlor in Manila, Maine said the staff was shocked to learn of their competitor’s rates. They were charged P17,000 for the service and autopsy. 

“Patay na nga, ginagawa pang hanapbuhay. Patay na nga po yung tao, pinapahirapan pa yung mga kamag-anak,” Maine said.

Orly Fernandez, owner of Eusebio funeral, denied that they overcharged the families of Tokhang victims, adding that they incurred losses when they held a mass burial for the unidentified victims of the war on drugs.

The Sedonios are among the surviving kin of those slain in police operations or vigilante attacks, who are burdened by the expensive rates of police-accredited morgues in Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) area.

Maine belied the police allegation that Sedonio fought back.

She said Sedonio was shot dead by policemen on Sept. 22 during a drug raid in Market 3.

“Sa sobrang takot niya, tumakbo siya nang tumakbo. Napagod po ‘yung mga pulis kakahabol. Sabi ng kapatid ko, ‘susuko na po ako.’ Sabi ng mga pulis, ‘**** ina mo, susuko ka kung kailan pinagod mo kami?’” Maine said.

Police allegedly told Sedonio to run before they fired at him.

“Sabi nila sa kapitbahay, ‘pahingi kami ng kumot. Wala kayong narinig. Wala kayong nakita,’” Maine said.

Sedonio was a friend of 17-year-old Marcelino Estrada, who was stabbed dead by unknown assailants in Market 3 on Sept. 27.

Market 3 had been a hotbed for police operations in the narcotics crackdown, until it was razed by fire on Oct. 18. 

The Caloocan diocese has offered cheaper funeral rates and free coffins to the families of Tokhang victims.

The Church also helps indigent families subsidize the P14,000 funeral fee, according to Caloocan bishop Pablo Virgilio David.

He said funeral homes often find ways to cheat the poor.

These funeral shops often tell the families to ask for money from charity institutions, David said.

He said the families have no choice because the bodies are first picked up by funeral homes.

“Ang bilis nilang makuha yung mga bangkay. Tapos ‘pag nakuha na yung patay, wala nang choice yung family. They’re like vultures. I feel so indignant,” said David, who is also the vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

He advised the memorial service under Caritas to help the indigent families than let them be victims twice over by these funeral homes.