‘Cult leader’ nabbed for interrupting Mass in Barili

A 46-YEAR-OLD “cult leader” was arrested after he shouted loudly while a Mass was ongoing in Barangay Mantalongon, Barili, Cebu Sunday afternoon, May 15, 2022.Police Major Felicisimo Aranas identified the suspect as Jerome Villarin, a faith healer and resident of Sitio Tagatay Barangay Vito, Barili, Cebu.Aranas told SunStar Cebu that around 4:15 p.m. Sunday, a concerned citizen called up to report that more or less 20 cult members were in the vicinity of the Mantalangon Parish Church.He said when the priest, Fr. Fiel Suico started to deliver his homily, Villarin’s group entered the church and shouted: “Ayaw mo’g too ana nga pari, dili na mao iyang gipanulti, iyaha na sa demonyo (Don’t believe in that priest. Everything he said is not true. He is Satan’s follower).”The Mass celebration was stopped for a while, as Suico tried to convince Villarin’s group not to interrupt the Mass. The group, however, did not listen.Aranas said Suico filed a case against Villarin Monday morning, May 16, 2022, for “offending religious feelings.””We are still waiting for further information to finally inquest the suspect,” Aranas said.Villarin was detained at the Barili Municipal Police Station. (GDC)