A man suspected of breaking into and stealing from a church in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, was arrested during a drug buy-bust operation, police said.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Alog,” was arrested at about 9 p.m. on July 12 in Purok Progreso, Barangay Alijis, during an operation conducted by Police Station 7.
Police said the suspect is a resident of Barangay Singcang Airport.
Authorities recovered more than P50,000 worth of suspected shabu and a firearm from the suspect during the operation.
According to a Facebook post by the church, a large amount of cash and several items from the convent were stolen when the church was burglarized in the early morning of July 8.
In an interview with Brigada News FM Bacolod, Police Capt. Jay-r P. Reyes, officer in charge of Police Station 7, said investigators noticed that the suspect’s tattoos matched those of the man captured on closed-circuit television footage entering and robbing the church.
Reyes said the suspect also admitted during tactical interrogation that he participated in the burglary.
According to police, the suspect claimed that two other individuals acted as lookouts during the incident.
The suspect is facing charges for alleged violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Police encouraged the church administration to file a separate complaint in connection with the reported burglary.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify and locate the two alleged accomplices mentioned by the suspect.
The burglary and the drug-related charges are being handled as separate cases while investigators gather additional evidence.
