Six statues stolen from Malabuyoc chapel

CEBU, Philippines - Burglars do not spare even icons inside a chapel.

Two antique statues of Saint James and four other antiques were found missing from a chapel in barangay Cedeña, Malabuyoc town, and believed to have been taken by burglars.

Rosario Palma, 69, president of Saint James Apostle Chapel in the barangay, alleged to the police that unidentified persons entered the chapel by passing through the door of the right wing sometime between last Saturday and last Tuesday and then stole the icons.

Palma reported that one big statue of St. James riding a horse and a smaller figure of the same saint were missing from the chapel. Four antique soldier statues were also believed to have been stolen.

She said that when she visited the chapel on Dec. 4 the lost icons were still on the altar. The burglary was reportedly discovered by a resident only last Wednesday night.

SPO3 Ariel Mascardo of the Malabuyoc police said they suspect that the burglars are not from the town.

Mascardo said that the chapel is situated uphill and is around 15 kilometers from the town proper. The area is also near the boundary the town shares with the towns of Alcoy and Boljoon, he said.

He added that the nearest house is several meters downhill.

Nobody witnessed the incident which was believed to have been carried out at night.

Mascardo said they will invite back Palma as well as the chapel’s treasurer who is allegedly in charge of the chapel’s padlock. They believe that the padlock was thrown away by the burglars.

“Gipahimangnuan na bitaw na sila ni (Cebu Archbishop Ricardo) Cardinal Vidal na ipa-safety g’yud nang mga statwa labi na kay antique,” Mascardo said. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP