By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

ONE of the three men charged for burglarizing a church and stealing church wine was found guilty by a Superior Court jury.
The jurors yesterday said Albert Kaipat, 29, was involved in a conspiracy to commit burglary and theft, while Judge David A. Wiseman convicted the defendant on the charge of receiving stolen property.
Assistant Attorney General Anne Marie Roy represented the government while Reynaldo Yana served as Kaipat’s counsel.
The government moved that Kaipat’s bail conditions be revoked and that he be remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections pending the sentencing hearing.
Wiseman granted Roy’s motion and set the sentencing hearing for June 28.
The jury trial for Kaipat started on Monday and was concluded on Tuesday morning.
Kaipat’s co-defendants Joaquin Pangelinan, 20, and Marvin Jay Somol, 20, were called as witnesses during the trial and testified against him.
The six jurors started deliberating on Tuesday afternoon and continued yesterday morning.
A few minutes before 10 a.m. yesterday, the jurors informed the court that they had already reached a verdict.
Kaipat and his two co-defendants were arrested in March last year for breaking into the San Jose Church on Feb. 20, 2006.
Kaipat and his co-defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and theft for entering the church with the purpose of committing theft.
Pangelinan and Somol were also charged with theft, burglary and criminal mischief for stealing 15 bottles of altar wine and computer speakers, and for breaking a window at the church.
Kaipat was also charged with receiving stolen property — altar wine.
Pangelinan and Somol are now on probation after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and theft in Aug. 2006.
The other charges of theft, burglary, disturbing the peace and criminal mischief filed against the two were dismissed in exchange for their guilty plea.
Pangelinan and Somol were sentenced to one year of imprisonment but all suspended except for 120 days and 60 days with credit for time served.
Pangelinan was released from the custody of the Department of Corrections on Oct. 10, 2006 after serving 46 days of his unsuspended sentence, while Somol was released on Dec. 28, 2006 after serving 119 days in jail.
Kaipat was also charged with stealing and damaging Commonwealth Development Authority property.
Prosecutors said Kaipat destroyed the chain at the entrance of the Pacific Castle in Koblerville, which is owned by CDA, and stole agency property.
The jury trial for this offense was set for June 25.