The Catholic Church has condemned the destruction of the 60-year-old shrine to the Virgin of Altagracia located by the El Puerto bus stop on the road from La Vega to Jarabacoa, reportedly by several gunmen.
Local residents say that they were woken up by the sound of shooting, and the security guard who looks after the shrine during the day, Justo German Canela handed the Police a note which was left by the gunmen, and the press quoted an excerpt: “If we see you here…we will shoot you in the head like we did the Virgin.” German Canela said that he is now afraid for his life as he only has a machete, God and the Virgin to protect him.
The Bishop of the diocese of La Vega, Monsignor Antonio Camilo has condemned the act and asked the police to step up their investigations to arrest those responsible.
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2013/01/23/i368616_pistoleros-destruyen-tiros-santuario-virgen-altagracia-vega.html