Authorities continue to investigate the casket found in Sta. Cruz, Manila, as part of a wider probe into incidents across Metro Manila that police now suspect may have been carried out as a paid operation.

The Manila Police District (MPD) said it is coordinating with other police units following earlier developments in the case, including the reported arrest of a driver allegedly linked to one of the casket drops.

Police indicate that multiple caskets were left in different parts of Metro Manila before dawn, suggesting a level of planning and coordination.

Police have also disclosed that individuals involved in transporting the caskets may have been paid to carry out the activity, with reports indicating that drivers and helpers received compensation.

Despite these leads, authorities have yet to confirm the group or individuals responsible for orchestrating the incidents.

Several advocacy groups have weighed in on the issue, saying the incident has sparked public discussion on broader national concerns, including sovereignty and security, but emphasized that any expression of sentiment must remain within the bounds of the law.

Advocacy groups including Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) movement said the incident has also drawn attention to broader national concerns, while urging a fact-based investigation.

“Patience is not surrender. Diplomacy is not submission,” Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, chairman emeritus of the groups, said, emphasizing that public sentiment should not be dismissed but must be expressed within the bounds of the law.

The groups also said that while the method used in the casket incidents may be controversial, it should not automatically invalidate the underlying concerns being raised, particularly on issues related to national sovereignty and security.

MPD, for its part, said the focus of the ongoing probe is to trace responsibility at all levels, including those who may have planned, funded, or executed the coordinated dumping.

As of latest update, the MPD said it is continuing coordination and evidence-gathering to confirm whether the Sta. Cruz case is directly linked to similar incidents reported in other cities.