The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) mourns the untimely death of Bisher Miñoza, a union leader employed by the Coke factory in Cebu, who was murdered on the night of October 24, 2025. We express our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues in the labor group the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa – Food and Beverage Council (SENTRO F&B) and the entire labor movement.

Miñoza, a shop steward of the Coca-Cola Logistics Central and Eastern Visayas Union – FCCU, was gunned down while making deliveries for the company. CTUHR has received information that Miñoza’s murderer has surrendered to the police, citing personal vendetta as motive.

While Miñoza’s murder is not politically-motivated, it still raises workplace safety concerns that Coca-Cola as a company and the government should address. SENTRO F&B cited Coke’s removal of Delivery Service Assistants (DSAs), who help out drivers with delivery and prevent accidents, exposure to violence and other adverse circumstances, from its operations.

It appears that DSAs provide additional protection to delivery workers from the many dangers lurking on the road. Had DSAs been in existence, Miñoza would have had additional protection from his murderer. At the very least, the presence of a DSA would have complicated the murderer’s plan or discouraged him from carrying out his scheme.

It is necessary to inquire whether Coke and other companies whose workers are highly exposed to hazardous conditions including robbery, murder and other crimes, provide hazard pay to workers and have security measures in place. The Social Security System (SSS) must also offer a specific compensation package for workers who die or are injured because of accidents or crimes that occur in the course of their work.

While Miñoza’s murder does not stem from his union activities, the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is still not off the hook from his case. State security forces have continued to engage in red-tagging labor and social activists and operations that are part of the government’s counter-insurgency plan. What they should be doing is protecting workers and all Filipinos from crimes, especially grave ones like murder.

We are reminded of the fact that months have passed yet no one has been held accountable for the recent government corruption scandals. Not only is the government failing to hold corrupt contractors and government officials accountable, it is being incapable of preventing ordinary crimes against workers and Filipinos.