By the roadside Church icons found dumped

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — At least four church icons believed to be ancient have been found abandoned by the roadside along sitio Ubos of Barangay Poblacion I in this city, according to Charlie Tantingco, officer-in-charge of the Bohol National Museum.

Tantingco said Cesar Diez, an employee of the Bohol Environment Management Office, was the one who found the dumped icons and informed museum authorities. But nobody knew, not even the police, can tell yet if the religious icons were stolen and then abandoned.

Tantingco said Diez found the icons, placed inside sacks, which were identified as one Virgin Mary, two others each cradling a baby Jesus and one San Vicente Ferrer.

The icons are now in police custody, for at least 30 days, until some rightful owner would claim these, otherwise the Bohol National Museum would have it for safekeeping, Tantingco said.

There have been instances that burglars ransacked churches of priceless religious icons, which eventually ended up in the hands of antique collectors.

Church relic caretakers have been wary of the security of the religious images following the destruction of their storage by the earthquake last year.  (FREEMAN)