Manila, Philippines, Aug 8, 2008 / 10:47 am
Archbishop Jose Dosado of Ozamiz in the Philippines was headed from his house to the cathedral to pray early Friday morning, when he was accosted by a man who took his wallet and cell phone. The archbishop did not report the incident to the police but went to pray for the thief instead.
Speaking on the Catholic-run Radio Veritas, Archbishop Dosado said that at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday he was walking to Immaculate Conception Cathedral to pray.
As he was walking a man riding a motorcycle suddenly stopped and pretended to check something in his bike. The assailant then announced that he was robbing the prelate, at which point the archbishop handed over his cell phone and wallet, with a little more than the equivalent of $70 inside.
Asked if he reported the incident to the police, Archbishop Dosado said he did not but added “I just prayed for him.”
The prelate told Radio Veritas that the man was armed with a hand gun and immediately fled after taking his wallet and mobile phone.
In an interview with CBCP News, the Mayor of Ozamiz City, Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog, said he immediately ordered the Philippine National Police to track down and arrest the thief promptly.
The archbishop’s wallet of the prelate containing all important documents including Dosado’s driver’s license were found by a child inside of a plastic bag floating at the seashore of Barangay Baybay Triumfo, according to the mayor.
Police were investigating two suspects as of midmorning on Friday.