BACOLOD CITY: A man claiming he was ordered by Allah barged into a Catholic Church in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, during an early morning Mass on Wednesday, April 3, and destroyed all the images at the altar.

PROFANATION A 39-year-old tricycle driver (photo below) entered the San Isidro Labrador Catholic Church in Binalbagan town in Negros Occidental and destroyed all graven images at the altar during an early morning Mass on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, and claimed he was ordered by Allah to destroy them. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FATHER JUDE MIRASOL GARCENIEGO PROFANATION A 39-year-old tricycle driver (photo below) entered the San Isidro Labrador Catholic Church in Binalbagan town in Negros Occidental and destroyed all graven images at the altar during an early morning Mass on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, and claimed he was ordered by Allah to destroy them. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FATHER JUDE MIRASOL GARCENIEGO

Fr. Leopoldo Cahilig, parish priest of the San Isidro Labrador Catholic Church in Binalbagan, said the man entered the church at about 7:15 a.m. and beheaded the images in the altar in an act that stunned the parishioners.

The suspect was identified as Rolly Semira, 39, a tricycle driver from Barangay San Teodoro.

Fr. Cahilig said the suspect drove his tricycle into the church then suddenly destroyed the images.

Semira claimed that he was ordered by Allah to destroy the images.

He is now detained at the Binalbagan Police Station.

Semira will be subjected to a drug test.

Cahilig said the parish intends to file charges against Semira, who is facing violation of Article 132 of the Criminal Code of the Philippines or "interruption of religious worship."

Church closed for 2 days

The parish priest said the Church of San Isidro Labrador will be closed after two funeral Masses on Wednesday afternoon, April 3.

In a statement, Cahilig said the suspect destroyed the images of St. Joseph, Parish Patronal Saint Isidro Labrador, the Immaculate Conception and two angels.

"The church will remain closed after the funeral Masses this afternoon. We will inform you of the future development while we try to fix "externally" — the physical damages in the sanctuary and "internally" — the injury and pain felt by all Catholics in Binalbagan caused by this untoward incident," he said.

He asked parishioners 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.

Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol condemned the incident.

"I express my great sadness regarding the sacrilegious act that occurred in our parish church this morning," the mayor said in a statement.

Mirasol added that he "guarantees the church, our priests and personnel, and the churchgoers the safety and sanctity, and assures you that something like this will not happen again."

"I condemn the perpetrator's actions and will ensure that such incidents are avoided in the future," the mayor said.

"Rest assured that the LGU (local government unit) will fully support the renovations necessary to restore the church to its sacred state. While our sacred statues may have been broken, our faith remains unshaken. God bless everyone," added Mirasol.