The Diocese of Iba ordered the temporary closure of a chapel inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone after an incident that church officials said violated the sanctity of the sacred place.
In a statement, Bishop Bartolome Santos, Jr. said the chapel’s holiness was desecrated following vandalism on January 18, 2026, which damaged several religious images.
The diocese said the person responsible may have a mental condition and was possibly under the influence of illegal drugs at the time of the incident.
Church authorities closed the chapel in line with Canon 1211 of the Code of Canon Law, which allows the restriction of worship in sacred places after serious violations.
For now, Sunday Masses are being held outside the chapel while church officials assess the situation.
