Woman steals hand of antique religious image from Dumaguete Cathedral

A woman stole the hand of an antique religious image in broad daylight from the Dumaguete Cathedral in Negros Oriental last June 2.

According to Oscar Oida’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, CCTV footage showed that a woman walking up to the image of St. Catherine of Alexandria, the church’s patron saint, during an ongoing Mass.

The suspect was seen touching the image while looking around.

She later reached out for the image’s left hand, twisted it, and slid it into her bag.

It was only recently that church officials noticed that the image’s left hand was missing.

Authorities are still looking for the suspect.

“Perhaps we should file a complaint because if it’s truly her habit, our churches will be at risk,” said Dumaguete Cathedral parish priest Msgr. Robert Bongoyan in the vernacular.

The church is still curious on the woman’s motive for the theft, noting that the image – although an antique – is not made of ivory.

“If possible, she should just return it because it won’t give her peace,” Bongoyan said. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA News