Police nab "thief" of religious statue

CEBU, Philippines — The authorities last Saturday nabbed a person for allegedly stealing a P30,000-worth Virgin Mary statue from a chapel in Boljoon, Cebu, while another individual was arrested for attempted rape in Borbon, Cebu.

Personnel of the Boljoon Police Station arrested Franz Xavier Abala, 25, a resident of Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City after he allegedly stole the Virgin Mary statue that the Chapel of Sitio Manggubat, Barangay Arbon, Boljoon, Cebu owns.

A resident has given the suspect's location after he was spotted to have stolen the statue inside the chapel.

The authorities recovered the statue wrapped in a green t-shirt and was placed inside a big brown bag. The policemen also recovered a mobile phone that contained several pictures of other religious statues and messages with transactions over the sale of antique religious relics.

The suspect is now detained at the Boljoon Police Station as a case for theft will be filed against him.

Meanwhile, another individual was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for attempted rape in Barangay Sagay, Borbon, Cebu.

Personnel of the Borbon Police Station arrested Guillermo Simbajon Tulag, 42, a resident of Barangay Sagay.

According to the PNP, Tulag has a standing warrant of arrest for attempted rape that Bogo City Judge Antonio Marigomen had issued last September 8, 2014.  A P120,000 bail bond was recommended for his temporary liberty.

The accused is now detained at the Borbon Police Station. — GAN (FREEMAN)