Sto. Niño gold jewelry stolen inside church

About three gold necklaces and six bracelets that were placed on the Sto. Niño image housed in a glass box were stolen by still unidentified burglars at the Redemptorist Church in barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City at 6 p.m last Tuesday.

Chief Insp. Renero Agustin of the Fuente police precinct, said the burglar/s destroyed the padlock of the glass box and took the jewelry. Security guard Presco Blanco said a candle maker named Felix Sarte discovered the theft.

Blanco said he went to the main entrance of the church near the glass box which houses the Sto. Niño image and he was told by Sarte that some jewelry was missing. Only four necklaces and six bracelets were left. The destroyed padlock was covered by a flower vase, Blanco said.

Brenda Ministerio, a church worker, said the jewelry were donated by devotees two years ago.

She said one donor told her that one of the missing necklaces was worth P20,000.

Parish priest Fr. Father Gerry Matriano said they will install a security camera to avoid a repeat of the theft.

The image was placed on the left side of the church’s front door where worshipers can pass through and offer prayers. Correspondents Chito Aragon and Christine Emily L. Pantaleon