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Monday, January 12, 2004
Church worker shot dead inside church
By Minerva B. Gerodias
CEBU -- Three days after the fiesta of the Holy Child officially kicked off, the celebration was marred by a tragedy right inside the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño Sunday dawn.
A 22-year-old stay-in working student of the church, who took care of an old priest, was shot dead by a roving security guard.
The guard allegedly caught the worker stealing money from the donation box.
Michael Capacite died before he reached the hospital, while security guard Ricardo Talisic surrendered to the police.
Homicide investigation revealed that Talisic was roving around the church compound at 12:20 a.m. Sunday when he noticed someone inside the church, which was closed.
Gun in hand, Talisic discreetly went inside the church and approached a person who was allegedly tinkering with the donation box in front of the image of the Sto. Niño.
The person concealed his face with a shirt. When Talisic called his attention, he allegedly grappled for the gun and attempted to pull something from his waistband.
This forced the guard to shoot, hitting the other person in the right eyebrow. When he checked, he found out he shot their stay-in working student.
A good son
Capacite was rushed to Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) by a team from the Mobile Patrol Group but died on the way.
Further investigation revealed that the donation box was already open, with a false key in its keyhole.
Investigators found an undetermined amount of bills and coins placed in a sack and a rope dangling from the second floor to the oratory.
Reporters tried to get the side of church officials, but no one could attend to reporters who visited the office Sunday.
Reporters requested to talk to the rector, Fr. Bong Mecina, but were told he was out of the country.
Capacite’s grieving mother, Dionisia, said she could not believe the allegations against her son.
“Buotan kaayo nang bataa. Wa gyud na nagpabadlong nako. Wa gyud na’y bisyo. Di gyud ko makatoo anang ilang gipasangil. Ako na lang nang itugyan sa Ginoo ang ilang pasangil,” she said. (He’s a good son. He has no vice. I cannot believe their allegations.)
The family learned about Pacite’s death through radio reports.
Dionisia said the family is determined to file complaints against the guard because they want justice for her son.
No more dreams
The guard, who is detained in the Cebu City police stockade, refused to grant interviews.
Dionisia recalled that Capacite often gave her money. When she asked where he got it, Capacite told her some visitors of the old priest he was attending to often gave him cash. Capacite even showed his mother some dollar bills.
Dionisia also confirmed that her son had two motorcycles, bought on installment.
Dionisia added that her son had been attending to Father Pio, a paralyzed priest, for two years now. He used to work as a janitor of the church but he was later asked to take care of the priest.
Capacite was a first-year Hotel and Restaurant Management student in one of the local universities.
The Capacites hail from Sitio Casoy, Barangay Climaco, Toledo City.
Dionisia is a farmer, while her husband Leonardo is a carpenter.
Dionisia said her son, the youngest of three siblings, dreamt about going abroad after finishing his studies.
Pacite will be buried on Sunday in Toledo City. After an autopsy Moday, his body will be sent back home.
(January 12, 2004 issue)
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