In funeral for drug war fatality, 3 wheels rule

ONE OF the e-bikes that joined the funeral procession for an e-bike driver killed in the drug war CLIFFORD NUNEZ/CONTRIBUTOR

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—Roberto del Mundo’s funeral cortege was a long line of colorful electric bicycles (e-bikes) seen from the national road here.

Aside from the beach umbrellas meant to shield passengers from the sun, the e-bike drivers tied white balloons to their bikes as they took their slain colleague to his final resting place on Tuesday.

To his fellow drivers, Del Mundo, 43, was a victim of the government’s bloody war on illegal drugs.

A police report said Del Mundo, on Sept. 10, was preparing to take passengers from the local tricycle drivers’ association (Toda) station in Barangay Putho-Tuntungin when two men on a motorcycle shot him several times.

Fellow drivers took him to a hospital, but Del Mundo died from his wounds the next day.

The attack was caught on a security camera of the village, but police have yet to identify any suspect.

“He was a good person, otherwise there wouldn’t be that many in the funeral,” said Bernardito Regis, the local Toda president.

He said more than 100 e-bike drivers left their route, off the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños on Tuesday afternoon to attend Del Mundo’s funeral.

Drug list

In a telephone interview, PO3 Noel Maduro, case investigator, said Del Mundo was a “high-value target” on the police’s drug watch list for selling illegal drugs.

He said Del Mundo was arrested for a drug-related offense two years ago but was let out on bail.

“He was a changed man,” Regis said.

Surrendered

He said he did not know how Del Mundo, in 2015, was able to secure a police clearance, a requirement for applicants to the local tricycle drivers’ group. He said Del Mundo was then looking for a decent job.

Regis said Del Mundo was among those who recently “surrendered” to the police’s “Oplan Tokhang,” a campaign to encourage illegal drug users and pushers to turn themselves in to authorities.

Regis said he had no idea who wanted Del Mundo dead.

“But we hear similar stories [on drug killings] almost everywhere, every day,” he said. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon