TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Villagers are up against the desecration of midget-sized images of the Blessed Virgin Mary for two consecutive times near the border of Kalinga and Isabela provinces in this city.
The move to protect religious images has been spurred by the latest discovery of broken parts of the destroyed Virgin Mary image last week in Sitio Ileb in Nambaran village and another desecrated Virgin Mary statue at the road shoulder near the Isabela-Kalinga border in Barangay Talaca, both in this city.
Broadcaster Hazel Gup-ay told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the statues of Virgin Mary and other Catholic images built by the Department of Public Works and Highways serve as view decks and prayer sites of villagers, guests, and visitors coming to the area.
Gup-ay said she already informed the DPWH officials about the desecration. The police were also asked to probe the destruction of Catholic images.
Expressing concern over the destructive works of unidentified vandals, Roman Catholic devotees have also appealed to public officials and law enforcers to tighten security measures in the city.
Lilia Beatrice Gabit, another villager, described the desecration as a “wicked act” and would give bad karma to the vandals.
Other Tabuk devotees believed the acts were done by those drunkards plying in the area, as a kiosk near the site has been serving as a drinking session area. (Bill Visaya/PNA)
