Statues of Virgin Mary, Padre Pio defaced in Albay parish

Religious images displayed outside the Parish of St. Padre Pio in Legazpi City in Albay were defaced by unknown individuals recently, according to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday.

The fingers of a statue of Padre Pio outside the church were chopped off, while one of his elbows was smashed.  A cherub at the foot of a statue of the Virgin Mary was also destroyed.

Authorities have no leads on the suspect as there were no witnesses and CCTV cameras installed in the church.

“Hindi gawa ng isang matinong tao ‘yon,” Police Executive Master Sergeant Guilbern Patacsil, Jr. of the Legazpi Police Public Information Office said.

Police already deployed officers near the church following the incident.

The church also installed CCTV cameras.

“May mga ordinance po na nire-require talaga na mayroon pong mga CCTV like sa mga establishment, mga tindahan… for purposes po na requirements ‘yon ‘pag nagre-renew sila ng mga permit nila,” Patacsil said.

Meanwhile, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon is hopeful that those behind the vandalism will realize the wrong they did.

“It was an act of vandalism indeed but it was not meant to be an act of religious sacrilege. I would not interpret it that way. Sabi ko lang, sana ‘wag nang ulitin ‘yon at tsaka makadama rin ng responsibilidad ang mga gumawa,” Baylon said.

Earlier, religious statues in two chapels in Lamitan City were also found destroyed by unknown assailants on Ash Wednesday. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/MDM, GMA News