By Dino Balabo (The Philippine Star) Updated December 17, 2010
GUIGUINTO, Bulacan, Philippines – After their church bell was stolen, parishioners of Sta. Cruz chapel in Barangay Sta. Cruz raised funds to get a new one. And just to make sure it wouldn’t be stolen again, they locked the bell in a steel cage.
They started their Simbang Gabi yesterday with the ringing of church bells.
Rex Santiago, who chairs the senior citizen parishioners of Sta. Cruz chapel, said they solicited money from their friends and fellow parishioners for the new bell.
It took them almost a month to raise P22,000 for the new bell. The old one was valued at P100,000.
“Hindi na basta mananakaw ’yan (It won’t be easily stolen),” said Santiago.
Ollie Cruz, chairman of Barangay Sta. Cruz, said they tightened security in the village to prevent a similar occurrence.
Earlier, Fr. Rolando de Leon of Marilao town said at least 12 churches and chapels in Bulacan had their bells stolen over the past two months.
The provincial police, however, monitored only seven incidents. They claimed a syndicate may be involved in the theft of bells.
The thefts occurred in churches in Guiguinto, Plaridel, Obando, and the city of San Jose del Monte.
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