• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
With the recovery of the 88-year-old painting Fernando Amorsolo painting “Mango Harvesters,” which was stolen from a private museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said it will serve as a reminder for Negrenses to remain vigilant in “protecting and ensuring the preservation of our cultural treasures.”
Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-Special Task Force (NBI-STF) arrested two suspects on July 11 for attempting to sell the stolen Amorsolo painting during an entrapment operation in Quezon City.
In a statement, NBI director Jaime Santiago disclosed that the stolen 1936 painting was being sold for P3.5 million.
The Amorsolo painting was stolen on July 3 from the museum of Hofileña family at Cinco de Noviembre Street in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
Lacson, who congratulated the NBI, Philippine National Police,among others, for its successful recovery, said “this successful operation is a proud moment and a testament to unwavering dedication, relentless investigative efforts, and outstanding coordination of our law enforcement agencies.”
The 88-year-old masterpiece is said to be valued at P10 million.
In a statement on its Facebook page on Friday, the National Museum of the Philippines said it received the 1936 painting “Mango Harvesters” from the NBI for purposes of assessment.
National Museum Director-General Jeremy Barns was able to personally inspect the painting and assure the NBI that the painting is indeed the object that was stolen. He then issued a certification to this effect at the request of the NBI.
“We congratulate the NBI for safely retrieving the stolen painting and reaffirm our commitment to assisting our law enforcement agencies in any appropriate way,” the National Museum said.
“We look forward to the return of ‘Mango Harvesters’ to its rightful owners and home at the Hofileña Museum, and to the successful prosecution of all persons who were involved in the theft of this valuable piece of the nation’s cultural and artistic heritage,” it added.
Meanwhile, two individuals, Ritz Chona Ching and Donecio Somaylo, who allegedly tried to sell the painting to undercover agents for PHP 3 million, have been charged, according to the NBI.* with PNA report
