Suspected thief caught in church

CEBU, Philippines - A man was arrested after he was allegedly caught in the act of stealing from the donation box of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral last Good Friday.

Police identified the suspect as Gerlick Polo, 28, a native of Baybay City, Leyte, who has no known address in Cebu.

Based on the report of the Waterfront Police Station, Polo was caught by church security guard Romulo Cenerpida.

Cenerpida, 48, was reportedly roving inside the church at 10:30 a.m. last Friday when he spotted Polo tinkering with the donation box located behind the church, just beside the area where church-goers light candles.

The guard approached Polo and caught him in the act of taking peso bills from the donation box using a length of galvanized wire.

“Nakabawog ang tumoy sa wire unya iyang isulod sa hulganan sa sinsilyo unya ikab-it ang mga papel. Ang sinsiyo, di na niya mahilabtan,” SPO4 Ernesto Caballero said.

After Cenerpida arrested Polo, the suspect was searched and found with three P20 bills and the wire he used in stealing the money.

The suspect is now detained at the Waterfront Police Station lock up cell and will face theft charges on Monday, Caballero added.

Caballero further said the guard revealed that the suspect had been frequenting the church and looked suspicious.

“Iya na daw ning gipanid-an hantod naaktuhan na g’yud niyang nangawat na sad gahapon,” said Caballero.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Jr., head of the Cebu City Police Office, said Waterfront Police Station chief Wildemar Tiu told him the suspect was wounded after he was attacked by some churchgoers.

“Nihubag iyang kamot kay gipusposan,” said Natu-el.

At the detention cell, the suspect allegedly kept pleading that he be released as he was set to return to Leyte last night.

Aside from this and a shooting and stabbing incident, Natu-el said the Holy Week celebration in Cebu City was very peaceful.

The CCPO director deployed more policemen for the Sugat sa Guadalupe activity early today as Cebuanos are expected to make merry in observance of Easter Sunday.   (FREEMAN)