Mayor Estrada: P90-M crypt for all Manilenos, even slain druggies

While fully supporting President Duterte’s deadly crackdown on drugs, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said “even” drug suspects killed in police operations are entitled to free burial at the P90-million columbarium and apartment-style crypt recently constructed at Manila North Cemetery.

“As long as you are a resident of Manila. We don’t discriminate as long as you are from Manila,” Estrada said on Friday when asked if the families of the slain suspects can still avail themselves of the funeral service and burial package provided by the city government.

The project’s completion coincided with the sharp rise in the number of fatalities in Manila that are being attributed to President Duterte’s war on drugs.

Among the 16 cities in the capital, Manila has posted the highest number of killings, according to a report released in August by the National Capital Region Police Office.

200 killed since July

Based on City Hall’s count, at least 200 suspects have been killed by the local police in antidrug operations under the 3-month-old Duterte administration.

According to Estrada, the columbarium, which was inaugurated on Monday, was funded solely by the local government, hence only Manila residents should benefit from it.

He noted that the 54-hectare Manila North Cemetery had already reached full capacity, leaving “no room for expansion but upwards.”

A four-story structure housing the columbarium and crypt has space for 4,088 niches for urns and 1,218 tombs.

It’s the “first major improvement” at the cemetery since 1904, the mayor noted.