LAMITAN CITY: Just as they entered to prepare for the scheduled holy Ash Wednesday mass, servants of two Roman Catholic community chapels were shocked to discover all images of saints and other religious icons disrespectfully destroyed and scattered all over the place of worships.
The vandalism act which angered many churchgoers was discovered at San Isidro Labrador and San Antonio de Padua chapels located in the village of Sta. Clara and Maganda village all in Lamitan City, Basilan Province.
Lamitan is part of the newly formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Spokesperson of Santa Isabel Prelate of Basilan Fr Edwin Rivero said the discoveries was immediately reported to church authorities by its staff.
“We are shocked and disturbed,” said Rivero, who is also parish priest of Saint Anthony parish.
“We don’t have any idea who are behind this,” he said.
He said all religious items inside the place of worships were destroyed and scattered.
He said life-size image of San Isidro was “beheaded.”
An image of the Virgin Mary, one of the most beloved by Catholic faithful, was thrown out of the chapel, said Rivero.
“There were traces that it was hit or trampled upon many times,” he added.
Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay confirmed that at the village of Maganda, some 18 km from the Sta. Clara chapel, the San Antonio de Padua chapel was also desecrated.
Furigay said the desecration happened on Tuesday night.
“The culprits removed all religious icons and threw them out of the chapel,” the Roman Catholic Mayor said.
The Catholic believers together with other Christian faithful kick-off its Lent season (40-days fasting month) with the observance of Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17) amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, local officials and the church and other authorities are appealing the public to remain calm while investigation is ongoing.
