Man disrupts Mass, smashes statues in Negros Occidental church rampage

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Police arrested a man, believed to have mental health problems, who crashed into a Catholic church while Mass being being celebrated and smashed nearly all the religious statues in sight in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday morning, April 3.

Authorities identified the suspect as Rolly Semira, a resident of Sitio Don Pedro Yulo, Barangay Santo Rosario in Binalbagan, where the church also stands.

Semira, 39, barged into the San Isidro Labrador Church with a motorcycle at around 7:15 am while a priest, Father Leopoldo Cahilig, was officiating a morning Mass.

Shocked and helpless, Cahilig paused as he and the mass-goers watched Semira go berserk and begin destroying statues, including images of Saint Joseph, San Isidro Labrador, two angels, and the Immaculate Conception.

Police sergeant Lester Salido, an investigator from the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station (BMPS), said Semira showed no remorse even behind bars, claiming he acted under divine guidance. The suspect told the police he was ordered by a deity to destroy the church properties.

Salido said Semira had been imprisoned following a homicide conviction, and is said to be suffering from mental health problems.

Police said they were preparing a complaint for violation of a law about the obstruction of religious worship against Semira within 18 hours from his arrest.

The offense, detailed in Articles 132 and 133 of the Revised Penal Code of 1930, is considered a crime, and carries the penalty of six months to six years of imprisonment.

Time for ‘spiritual and emotional healing’

In a statement, Cahilig called on town residents and Catholics in Negros Occidental to “pray for the immediate restoration of the sanctuary and complete spiritual and emotional healing of everyone.”

“We entrust the person concerned to the mercy and compassion of God. God bless us all,” Cahilig said.

The priest also said the church will be temporarily closed on Wednesday afternoon “while we try to fix the physical damage in the sanctuary ‘externally’ and the injury and pain felt by all Catholics in Binalbagan ‘internally’ caused by this untoward incident.”

Diocese of Kabankalan Bishop Louie Galbines said in a statement that the parish church will be temporarily closed to repair all the damages inflicted on the church.

“Witnessing the desecration of the sanctuary and utter disrespect to the revered images generated so much pain and suffering to the people of the parish. Thus, while restoring the broken images is urgent, the reparation of the internal injury and pain is even paramount,” he said.

“We unite all our prayers and I fervently hope that we all move forward and come out stronger and more dedicated Catholics at the end of this,” the bishop said.

Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol condemned the attack on the church and assured all of its constituents that the local government would help them renovate the church’s damaged properties.

‘We do not tolerate such actions’

Achir Saripada, an Imam or a Muslim church leader in the town, confirmed that the suspect is among their worshippers and apologized for the damage inflicted by Semira.

“We do not tolerate such actions,” he said.

Saripada clarified that “being a believer in the Islamic faith does not include inflicting damage on other individuals with different beliefs or religions.”

Saripada said Semira converted to Islam when he was imprisoned in Manila after a homicide conviction. He also said that Semira previously attended their worship sessions but he rarely saw him because of his said “underlying mental condition.”

In 2008, Semira was arrested in Taguig City for inflicting harm on a three-year-old girl which led to her permanent blindless, according to a PhilStar report. – With reports from Reymund Titong/Rappler.com