ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Roman Catholic community and the provincial government of Basilan condemned on Sunday, August 27, the desecration of a sacred image of Jesus Christ at the Santa Isabel de Portugal Cathedral in Isabela City, Basilan.

A STATUE of Jesus Christ with the unwanted child at the Santa Isabel de Portugal Cathedral in Isabela City, Basilan was hammered and vandalized last week. (Provincial Government of Basilan photo)
Bishop Leo Dalmao, head of the Roman Catholic Prelature of Isabela City, confirmed that the image of Jesus Christ with the Unwanted Child was hammered and vandalized on Saturday night, August 26.
The desecrated statue, located at the cathedral entrance and dedicated to unborn and unwanted babies, incurred considerable damage and angered the Catholic community in the province.
Dalman asked the Catholic faithful to remain calm and pray for God’s intercession.
Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman Salliman expressed sadness, sympathy, and solidarity with the Catholic community over what he described as an “unreasonable and dastardly act.”
“We call upon the Catholic Church and the entire Christian faithful of Basilan to stay calm while praying for peace and justice,” Salliman said in a statement.
Both parties called on the police to undertake a thorough and impartial investigation on the incident.