Man climbs Bacolod Cathedral altar, disrupts mass

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A man carrying a bladed weapon disrupted a mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral here on Saturday as he climbed onto an architectural structure behind the altar, prompting a nearly five-hour rescue operation by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and police.

The man, identified only as Alvin, entered the cathedral at 4 p.m. and climbed onto the altar area.

Responders secured one bladed weapon from him, but he continued to climb while carrying another sharp object.

A mass scheduled at 5:15 p.m. was consequently held outside the cathedral.

Supt. Jenny Mae Masip, Bacolod city fire marshal, said rescuers spent hours negotiating with the man, who repeatedly signaled for them to stay away and did not respond to most questions.

Masip said rescuers faced the challenge of finding a suitable anchor point for a lifeline and disarming the man.

BFP personnel decided to deploy an inflatable jump cushion and using two ladders to allow members of the Special Rescue Force to move closer.

At 9:13 p.m., the man jumped from the platform and landed on the inflatable cushion.

BFP emergency medical personnel treated the man for lacerations and abrasions before turning him over to Police Station 1.

Maj. Eugene Tolentino, Police Station 1 chief, said witnesses told investigators that the man was frequently seen at the cathedral but usually spent his time praying.

Tolentino said the man could not simply be released because there was a possibility that he could repeat the incident.

The reason for his action was unclear.