Volunteers at the Our Lady of Lindogon church in Sibonga in Cebu wondered why the priest paused in his reading and did not give a homily, GMA Cebu’s Randy Gorion reported on GMA News TV’s “Balita Pilipinas Ngayon.”

“Matagal siyang mag-scroll sa mga basahin, imbes na mag-homily ang mga pari, siya nag-scroll lang matapos basahin ang Bibliya,” volunteer Lita Anticamara said.

At the time, the monks managing the shrine were away on retreat.

Caretaker Rodriga Paez said she gave the priest’s group a stipend. The report did not immediately specify how much.

“Kung may magsabi na may magpapamisa, magmimisa pero dapat magsasabi,” Paez said.

Msgr. Esteban Binghay, episcopal vicar for Cebu’s south district, even talked to the group’s “bishop” in Italian as he claimed to be an Italian. But Binghay said the bishop seemed evasive.

“When I talked to him in… Italian, he could not say anything. That’s why I was surprised,” he said, adding the “bishop” could not show proof of his identity.

The monks indicated they will not press charges.

For their part, local police said they will investigate the incident.

“We’re willing (to investigate) if there will be a complaint,” said Cebu provincial police head Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News