A PARISHIONER mauled a parish priest after he was prevented from preaching during a mass in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Police Colonel Albert Larubis, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, said that Elizar Sedenio, 40, mauled Father Leo Pugot Salomes, 38, around 12:25 p.m. Sunday, September 11, 2022, in front of the parishioners of the San Isidro Labrador parish in Nazareth, Kabasalan town.

Larubis said investigation showed that prior to the incident, Sedenio asked Salomes to give him time to preach during the scheduled Sunday mass but the priest refused and told the suspect he cannot be given time to preach because he is not a priest.

“When the mass ended (Sunday), the suspect approached the victim and punched hitting him on his head,” Larubis said in a statement.

He said the other parishioners present called for assistance and the responding village watchmen arrested Sedenio and turned over the suspect to police. (SunStar Zamboanga)