Church officials in Bacolor, Pampanga recovered missing religious items from the San Guillermo Parish Church after police identified a 12-year-old girl as the suspect behind a series of thefts discovered in December 2025 and in early January 2026.

The Bacolor Police Station said the suspect entered the church on December 12, December 31, 2025, and January 4, 2026 but the theft was discovered only on January 6 while church staff were preparing the image of the Señor Jesus Nazareno for an upcoming feast.

Police said CCTV footage from inside the church helped identify the suspect - a minor who attended Mass at the parish regularly.

Investigators found that the child took several items from religious images inside the church, including those belonging to Señor Jesus Nazareno and Santa Marta.

Bacolor Police Station chief, PMaj. Jessie James Domingo, said CCTV footage showed the child wearing some of the items she stole as she left the church.

“Nakita po natin roon na sa saktong paglabas niya ay suot-suot nga po niya ang isang wig. Kung hindi po kami nagkakamali, iyon po ang wig ni Señor Nazareno. December 12, iyong parang robe o damit ay parang na-misplaced po, hindi po napapansin kung saan po dapat naroon,” Domingo said.

Domingo said church officials thought initially that the missing items were only cleaned or moved. The loss became clear days later.

“Napag-alaman lang po nila ito noong January 6, 2026, nang ipi-prepare na po sana nila si Señor Jesus Nazareno para sa pista. Napansin po nila na wala na nga po ang mga gamit—ang tiara, wooden keys, robe, at saka ang wig,” Domingo added.

ADMISSION

Police said the child admitted to taking and wearing the religious items while attending Mass. According to authorities, the minor claimed she heard voices telling him to take and wear the items.

“Base sa kanyang kuwento, habang nagsisimba po siya ay may narinig po siyang parang bumubulong sa kanya na kunin nga po ang mga gamit na ito dahil ito nga po ang makakapagligtas po sa kanya,” Domingo said.

The police chief added that the child’s parents believed initially that the items were given to their daughter by the church because she attended Mass regularly there. Her mother had kept the items and turned these over to authorities later.

Following a police operation, all clothing and accessories stolen were recovered.

San Guillermo Parish Church parish priest, Rev. Fr. Ted Valencia, said the church decided not to pursue charges against the child.

“Hindi na kami nag-push through, nag-resist kami para hindi na kasuhan. Kawawa naman. Pero maganda rin ang nangyari kasi naging vigilant kami, tulong-tulong simbahan, LGU, kapulisan, at media,” he said.

The Philippine National Police said the child has been referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for proper intervention and psychosocial support.