Construction worker arrested over theft at Vigan cathedral

A 36-year-old construction worker was arrested in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur on Sunday after allegedly taking church donations and other items from the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, police said.

The suspect, who resides in Zone 6, Sinapangan in the municipality of Bangued, Abra, was apprehended at 5:55 a.m. on October 25, according to local law enforcement officials. The theft reportedly occurred in the early morning hours at the cathedral located in Barangay 1.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the full extent of items allegedly stolen or their estimated value. The case is being investigated by local police, who are determining the circumstances of the incident and assessing security measures at the religious site.

The arrest highlights ongoing concerns about thefts targeting places of worship in the region, where donations and religious artifacts remain vulnerable to opportunistic criminals.