• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday urged the owner of the stolen Fernando Amorsolo painting, which was later recovered by authorities, to press charges against the two other suspects, who according to the police, remain at-large.
Lacson said he was informed by PCol. Rainier de Chavez, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, that the Hofileña family, who owns the 88-year-old painting titled “Mango Harvesters” is not pursuing charges against the suspects, following its recovery in Quezon City, on July 11.
It was stolen on July 3 from the private museum of the Hofileña family at Cinco de Noviembre Street in Silay City, by two suspects, a man and a woman, who joined a tour of the museum.
I hope the family will understand that we are trying to avoid these individuals from going scot-free, and plan out their next heist, Lacson said.
The P25,000 reward for the recovery of the stolen painting of Amorsolo, a national artist, which was offered by Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, was already turned over to the informant, following its recovery from the two suspects who attempted it to sell for P3.5 million.
The two arrested suspects, according to the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation, were reported to have been ordered to deliver the painting to a buyer.
The 88-year-old masterpiece is said to be valued at P10 million.*