Thief strikes at church’s office

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A lone thief managed to creep inside a church’s office at City Proper district, Iloilo City.

The suspect was caught by a security camera, as he was seen near the office of the Tanza Catholic Church at Barangay Bonifacio-Tanza, City Proper around 7:00 a.m. of July 1.

EJ Melgar, 22, a resident of Barangay Tanza-Timawa, Zone II, City Proper, reported to Iloilo City Police Station 1 that his wallet containing his identification cards and P1,500 cash went missing.

Melgar, who works as the parish church’s media coordinator, claimed that an Acer laptop and a DSLR Camera owned by Rev. Father Angelo Colada was also missing.

Prior to that, Melgar claimed that there was an unidentified male person roaming around the church’s office. He pretended to be asking for the schedule of masses and the priest’s whereabouts.

A CCTV footage pointed to a 35-year-old man, who was wearing a black shirt, a pair of camouflage shorts, rubber shoes, and a face mask, as the possible suspect.

The man surreptitiously entered the office of the church. Shortly later, he went out carrying a backpack, which may have contained his loot.

The man exited towards corner Ledesma-Jalandoni Streets.

Major Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPS1 chief, said they already have a person of interest behind the incident.

She declined to give more details, as follow-up investigation is still going on.