Shrine of Our Lady of the Rule robbed; jewelry, cash donations lost

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Burglars took several pieces of jewelry from the statue of Our Lady of the Rule inside the Nuestra Señora de Regla Parish National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City early Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The stolen items included 69 pieces of gold necklaces (some items have pendants), 16 gold bracelets and 70 gold rings.

The paper bills inside the donation box were also taken.

All of the stolen items were donations and cost between P500,000 to P1 million.

Chief Inspector  Christian Torres, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Theft and Robbery Section, said the burglary was noticed by church cleaners early Wednesday when they saw the statue.

Torres said the church, which celebrated the parish fiesta last Nov. 20 and 21, showed no signs of forced entry.