Subic bay: A chapel inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales has been temporarily closed after it was desecrated. The temporary closure was ordered through a decree issued by Iba Bishop Bartolome Santos Jr. on January 19, following vandalism at the San Roque Chapel and its adoration chapel.

According to Philippines News Agency, Bishop Santos reported that "The Sacred Host in the Monstrance was left in pieces on the floor," as stated in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news website. Furthermore, he noted that the monstrance and sacred images were destroyed in the incident.

Bishop Santos attributed the acts to an individual suffering from mental instability, potentially due to substance abuse. Due to the person's condition, no canonical penalty was imposed; instead, the individual was commended "to the mercy of God."

The chapel is set to reopen only after necessary repairs and a penitential rite of reparation are conducted. Meanwhile, Bishop Santos urged Catholics to engage in prayer, fasting, and charitable work, emphasizing that the incident should deepen love for the Eucharist and respect for sacred places.

Under Canon 1211 of the Code of Canon Law, the local ordinary has the authority to order acts of reparation if "sacred places are violated by gravely injurious actions" that cause scandal to the faithful and are so "grave and contrary to the holiness of the place" that worship may not be celebrated until due reparation is made.