CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City Police are still gathering leads to identify those involved in stealing the jewelry of the image of Virgin of the Rule Wednesday dawn.
Lapu-Lapu City Police Chief, Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas told reporters that he directed the investigators of the Theft and Robbery Section to gather more evidence and testimonies of possible witnesses.
Police also invited Fr. Agustin Polong and other church personnel to undergo a lie detector test and cooperate in the investigation.
In separate interview, Polong said that they will be improving their security measures following the burglary incident.
The new measures will be on the agenda of his meeting next week with other priests and those involved the security of the churches.
Polong said they are also considering buying new CCTV cameras and repairing the existing ones that do not work.
Parish priest Fr. Jimmy Duero will come back from Nueva Ecija next week, Polong told reporters.
Meanwhile, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma condemned the act and prayed for the conversion of perpetrators.
“It is something that we decry and of course we condemn the act. We pray for the conversion of the one who perpetrated the crime,” Palma said.
“It is unfortunate that some people for reasons na only they can really reveal but we know that is really a scandal that the love offering of the people imo lang gyud lungkabon ug kawaton,” he added.
The jewelry of the image was donated by devotees in Lapu-Lapu City and different provinces. – (FREEMAN)