Nun hurt in hacking inside monastery

CEBU, Philippines - A Franciscan nun is in critical condition after a man, who is said to be suffering from mental illness, barged into the Ave Maria Franciscan Sisters Monastery in Barangay Sacsac, Consolacion at 8:00 a.m. yesterday and started hacking the members of the congregation during their morning devotional at the chapel.

Sister Annabel Macas, 36, sustained several hack wounds in the head and neck and is now confined at a private hospital in Cebu City.

The suspect, Romilo Tampus, 26, of Barangay Tulo-tulo, Consolacion was arrested by the police and is now detained at the town’s police station.

 PO1 Rechie Gilleran of the Consolacion Police Station admitted that police investigators are puzzled on how the suspect gained entrance into the monastery.

One of the theories being considered by investigators is that, the suspect entered the monastery by scaling a 10-meter high perimeter fence at the back.

As soon as he was inside, Tampus reportedly started hacking anyone who comes across his path. Except for Macas, however, no other nun was hurt because they were able to immediately run.

The incident reportedly forced the Franciscan sisters to temporarily abandon the monastery.

Tampus was later arrested at his residence in Barangay Tulo-tulo. Policemen were able to convince the suspect to surrender.

Gilleran said the family claimed that the suspect is suffering from “mental illness.”

 â€œDili ma-estorya og tarong ug walay klaro nga mo-estorya,” he said.

Despite his alleged mental condition, the Franciscan sisters have expressed interest to pursue the filing of a criminal complaint for frustrated murder on Monday. —(FREEMAN)