Man arrested for stealing from Basilica

CEBU, Philippines - A man was arrested yesterday inside the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño after he tried stealing one of the basilica’s fire extinguishers.

Lorenzo Rivera de los Reyes, 40, of Poblacion, Sibonga Town, Cebu, looked like any another churchgoer at the basilica’s candle area before he was arrested by Security Guard Lorenzo Lofranco at around 8 a.m.

This was after de los Reyes removed a fire extinguisher from its holder and tried to flee with it.

Unfortunately for the suspect, he was sighted by Lofranco who was assigned near the area.

Lofranco asked de los Reyes to stop but he reportedly disregarded the warning. This led to a chase inside the basilica grounds which laster for a few minutes before he was cornered while holding the fire extinguisher.

De los Reyes tried to resist arrest but was pacified by other responding security personnel.

Lofranco said he never thought that de los Reyes, who seemed engrossed in prayer a few minutes before the incident, would steal from the basilica.

De los Reyes was brought to the Waterfront Police Station where he is currently detained while the police are waiting for the church authorities to file charges against him.

Earlier this week, Cesar Ocañada, 46, of Barangay Basak Pardo, this city, was also arrested inside the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Security guard Arvin Baron apprehended Ocañada inside the cathedral convent carrying a sack of melted candles. He has been charged for theft. (FREEMAN)