Story: JOSEPHINE M. MENDOZA
Photo: PAOLO ARMATEO
A church bell of Sr. San Miguel de Arkanghel in the municipality of Gandara, Samar is missing since August 08, 2024 when it was no longer seen at the foot of the churchbell tower.
The Municipal Police Station, started investigation of the missing church bell only today (August 13) after it was reported by the convent personnel at 5:35PM only on August 12, 2024.
“During the ocular inspection and investigation initially conducted, we gathered that the church bell was kept at the foot of the bell tower. From there, we saw trail of bell marks on the ground that traces up to the convent’s back gate where the thieves may have exited as the gate opens to the national highway.” Gandara MPS Chief Investigator P/SMS Jed Brozas told Calbayog Journal in an interview.
Convent personnel, Paolo Armateo explained to police authorities that he needed the guidance of the parish priests before he was able to report the incident to the authorities. The parish priests were out-of-town at the time when the bell was stolen.
“The bell is made of bronze and may be old but not considered antique as it was donated to the parish only sometime in the1980’s,” Armateo said and added that “the bell may weigh about 300 kilos for which reason that a group of 4 to 6 persons may have carried it out of the convent.”
Further, Armateo informed that the bell is no longer in use and was brought down 5 years ago due to a small part that was chipped off. It was due for transport to a place where it can be displayed for public viewing.
Meanwhile, Chief Investigator Brozas appeals for the help of the community to locate the bell and information that can help identify persons-of-interest on assurance that identities of informers will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
“While peace and order situation in the municipality is manageable, on record of Gandara MPS, the incident of the missing bell is the first recorded case of stealing for this year,” PSMS Brozas said. (CJ/JMM)
NOTE: The photo posted with this story is not the actual bell but similar in appearance to that of the missing bell.
- Calbayog Journal, August 13, 2024.
Photo: PAOLO ARMATEO
A church bell of Sr. San Miguel de Arkanghel in the municipality of Gandara, Samar is missing since August 08, 2024 when it was no longer seen at the foot of the churchbell tower.
The Municipal Police Station, started investigation of the missing church bell only today (August 13) after it was reported by the convent personnel at 5:35PM only on August 12, 2024.
“During the ocular inspection and investigation initially conducted, we gathered that the church bell was kept at the foot of the bell tower. From there, we saw trail of bell marks on the ground that traces up to the convent’s back gate where the thieves may have exited as the gate opens to the national highway.” Gandara MPS Chief Investigator P/SMS Jed Brozas told Calbayog Journal in an interview.
Convent personnel, Paolo Armateo explained to police authorities that he needed the guidance of the parish priests before he was able to report the incident to the authorities. The parish priests were out-of-town at the time when the bell was stolen.
“The bell is made of bronze and may be old but not considered antique as it was donated to the parish only sometime in the1980’s,” Armateo said and added that “the bell may weigh about 300 kilos for which reason that a group of 4 to 6 persons may have carried it out of the convent.”
Further, Armateo informed that the bell is no longer in use and was brought down 5 years ago due to a small part that was chipped off. It was due for transport to a place where it can be displayed for public viewing.
Meanwhile, Chief Investigator Brozas appeals for the help of the community to locate the bell and information that can help identify persons-of-interest on assurance that identities of informers will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
“While peace and order situation in the municipality is manageable, on record of Gandara MPS, the incident of the missing bell is the first recorded case of stealing for this year,” PSMS Brozas said. (CJ/JMM)
NOTE: The photo posted with this story is not the actual bell but similar in appearance to that of the missing bell.
- Calbayog Journal, August 13, 2024.
