By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The suspect in the robbery of the monstrance inside the San Sebastian Cathedral’s adoration chapel in Bacolod City has denied the allegations against him by the police.

In a radio interview yesterday morning, Edmar Yanson, a resident of the city’s Barangay 12, claimed that he was only mistakenly arrested by the authorities.

Yanson said, at the time of the robbery, he was at his friend’s house.

Earlier, Police Station 1 commander, Major Elmer Bonilla, said Yanson allegedly planned to sell the monstrance.

However, his plans were foiled after social media posts went viral.

The monstrance, a vessel in which the consecrated eucharistic host is carried during processions and is displayed during certain devotional ceremonies, was valued at around P30,000.

Bonilla said Yanson wrapped the monstrance in a bag and left it at the cathedral’s gates, where it was later discovered on Sunday morning, December 31, 2023.

A background check revealed that Yanson did not have any previous criminal records.

Although his name had appeared in other previous robbery incidents, he was never charged.

Police investigations also showed that Yanson hangs out around the San Sebastian Cathedral regularly.

He had no idea of the monstrance’s religious importance that it deserves the utmost respect, police said./DGB, WDJ