Church Construction Worker Jailed for Stealing P237 From Donation Box

A construction worker in Manila was arrested on Friday, March 16 for stealing P237 from the donation box of a Catholic church he is working for. The suspect, who was identified as a certain Jay, 19 years old, was reportedly caught on CCTV at around 6 pm that day, stealing the money from one of the boxes, and immediately left the scene.

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According to SPO2 Bienvenido Granada of Manila Police District (MPD) Station 4, a woman who serves the church and assigned to monitor the CCTV immediately called them for help. The name of the Catholic Church was not revealed, but the police said it is located at the corner of Benavides Street at Masangkay Street, in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Minutes later, the parish priest arrived at the police station to file a formal complaint against the construction. In an interview with ABS-CBN, the suspect admitted to the crime and said he was tempted to do so. He said that the church has not yet given his salary for his two-week work, and that he baldy needed money for his mother’s medicine.

“May sakit lang po ang nanay ko kaya ko nagawa yun. Dapat kasi, sweldo ko nung a kinse pero sabi ni Father, wala pa daw sila mabigay sakin dahil mahina ang donasyon. Sabi ko nga po, kahit P500 muna, basta makabili lang ako ng gamut.” Jay said, who was later known to be negative on drugs and has no previous criminal records.

On the other hand, the parish priest who refused to face the camera and did not give his name admitted that he has not yet given Jay’s salary. But then, he said he informed the suspect three days before, and that the suspect agreed. However, he denied that the construction worker approached him to ask for at least P500 for his mother’s medicine.



“Kung sinabi niya sa akin agad na may sakit ang nanay niya, bibigyan ko siya kahit papano. Ang pakay namin dito parokya ay hindi lamang ipamahagi ang salita ng Diyos kundi ang tumulong din sa mga nangangailangan. Pero kung ang simbahan mismo ang nanakawan niya, nararapat lamang na siya ang parusahan.” The parish priest said.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao