BY JEN BAYLON
BACOLOD City – A solemn mass at the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, was disrupted when a man ran amok and vandalized several religious statues and properties of the church.
The suspect, 39-year-old Rolly Semira, a tricycle driver and resident of the town’s Barangay San Teodoro, managed to break into the church on Wednesday, April 3.
Parish priest Father Leopoldo Cahilig reported that the suspect entered the church past 6:30 a.m. while the mass was ongoing.
The suspect reportedly defaced the place while shouting, “Inutusan ako na wasakin ang Diyos-diyosan na mga imahe, mga rebulto sa simbahan.”
The Binalbagan municipal police were alerted, and the incident is now under investigation.
No one was reported injured during the incident.
In a statement, the San Isidro Labrador Parish said the church will remain closed until further notice.
“Our sanctuary was ransacked and desecrated. The perpetrator broke the images of St. Joseph, our patron, San Isidro Labrador, the Immaculate Conception, the Crucifix, and the two angels. The tabernacle was also damaged. This happened while Fr. Cahilig was saying mass,” it said.
The parish also enjoined residents to pray for the immediate restoration of the sanctuary.
“We will inform you of the future developments while we try to fix externally the physical damages in the sanctuary and internally the injury and pain felt by all Catholics in Binalbagan caused by this untoward incident. Let us pray for the immediate restoration of the sanctuary and the complete spiritual and emotional healing of everyone,” it added.
Binalbagan mayor Alejandro Mirasol expressed sympathy over the incident and assured the safety of the church, priests, personnel, and churchgoers, assuring that such will not happen again.
“I express my great sadness over the incident that happened in our parish church this morning. I guarantee the church, our priests and personnel, and the churchgoers safety and sanity, and that something like this will not happen again. I condemn his actions and will make sure that this is avoided. Rest assured that the LGU (local government unit) will support the renovations that are needed. Our sacred statues may be broken, but our faith is not. God bless everyone,” Mirasol said in a statement. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
