ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE — A bizarre and troubling incident has stirred mixed emotions online after a coffin was reportedly stolen from a funeral home in Barangay Poblacion, Tampilisan, leaving both the business owner and the public in disbelief.
Kenneth Babas Cubol, a funeral service manager, shared the incident through a now-viral social media post, expressing shock over what he described as an unimaginable act—one that challenges the very nature of their line of work.
“Sounds weird, pero tinood gyud ni,” Cubol wrote (“It sounds weird, but this is really true”), admitting that even within the funeral industry, there has long been a common belief that coffins are among the least likely items to be stolen. “Kani ra gyud negosyo nga dili pwede kawaton,” he added (“This is the only kind of business where things aren’t supposed to be stolen”), underscoring how their work was once thought immune to such incidents.
But that belief was shattered.
According to Cubol, they were caught off guard by the incident, especially at a time when they have remained open to helping struggling families. He revealed that their funeral service has been willing to extend financial assistance through lending, recognizing the economic hardships many face today.
“Pwede ra man gyud unta mi makapautang… makasabot mi sa hingtundan nga apiki kaayo,” he said (“We could have just extended a loan… we understand when people are really in a tight situation”). Yet despite this willingness to help, the situation escalated to what he described as a painful and disheartening loss. “Dili unta moabot sa punto nga mawad-an mi og lungon” (“It shouldn’t have come to the point that even our coffins would be taken”).
In a statement that struck many netizens, Cubol expressed a complex mix of frustration and reluctant compassion. While acknowledging the significant loss on their part, he also reflected on the possibility that the stolen coffin may have been used to lay a loved one to rest.
“Sa nagkuha, nakatabang ra mi ninyo nga nahiluna inyong minatay—but in the wrong way,” he said (“To the one who took it, we may have helped you lay your loved one to rest—but in the wrong way”), capturing the emotional contradiction of the situation. “Dako man ug kawad-on sa amoa, pero ang Ginoo na lang ang nakabalo” (“It is a big loss for us, but only God truly knows”).
Authorities have yet to identify any suspects as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, the incident has triggered a wave of reactions online—ranging from disbelief and dark humor to concern and sympathy. Some netizens admitted being unsure whether to laugh or feel saddened, echoing Cubol’s own sentiment: “Wala ko kasabot ug magkatawa ba ko or maguol” (“I don’t know whether to laugh or feel sad”).
Others pointed to the theft as a stark reflection of deepening poverty, suggesting that desperation may be driving people to unthinkable acts.
As the story continues to unfold, it leaves behind a haunting question—not just about security, but about the state of society itself—where even items meant for the dead are no longer spared from the realities of the living.