Caught red-handed, Jose Lopez attempted to bribe law enforcerment who had arrived at the scene after being alerted by an anonymous caller about a stranger throwing bags onto the property early Tuesday.
After the police officers turned down the offered bribe, the former Public Works Secretary told the nuns that police had tried to steal the money he was trying to donate to the monastery.
Police discovered wads of US dollars, euros, Japanese yen and Qatari riyals in more than 160 packages stashed inside the bags.
Jose Lopez served as Public Works Secretary from 2003 until 2015.
