Police has yet to identify suspects
TACLOBAN CITY – A church in Gandara, Samar, has lost one of its precious items to burglars—one of its two bells.
The bell from St. Michael The Archangel Parish was reported missing on August 8, with the culprits still unidentified, Paolo Armateo, a convent personnel, said in an interview on Monday, August 12.
Armateo said that the bronze-cast bell had been placed on the floor of the church’s belfry before it was stolen.
“Although we do not use the bell during our masses due to some cracks, we still treasure it,” he said.
Armateo noted that given its weight, the bell, made in the 1970s in Cebu, likely required at least four to five people to carry it away.
“It weighs around 300 kilograms, so at least four to six individuals could have carried it from the belfry,” he said.
Unfortunately, he added, they don’t have CCTV cameras, so they have requested assistance from the barangay where the church is located and nearby areas to check if any movements of the suspects were captured.
“We are appealing for help in recovering the bell. The police are assisting us and are currently conducting an investigation to identify and apprehend the suspects,” Armateo said.
The incident has shocked parishioners, who condemned the theft.
“It’s so shocking. How could these culprits even steal something that belongs to the Church? May the Lord take care of you,” Abbie Ramos said.
Armateo mentioned that, to his knowledge, this is the first time an item has been stolen from their church.
The local police are still searching for leads in the incident as their investigation continues.
Major Jonathan Camacho, the town’s police chief, stated that they are seeking assistance from the public, particularly those with CCTV cameras, to help identify the perpetrators.
“Our investigation is ongoing, and we have yet to identify any suspects or persons of interest,” Camacho said in a phone interview.
Expressing his dismay, Camacho remarked that the suspects might have committed a grave offense.
“Even though the bell appears unserviceable due to its cracks, it’s still unforgivable to steal an item owned by the Church,” he said.
According to Camacho, the perpetrators likely took advantage of the night, with the crime possibly occurring between 1 AM and 3 AM, based on their initial findings.
He vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
