The National Bureau of Investigation-Special Task Force (NBI-STF) recovered the painting by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo that was stolen from the Hofileña Museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental, in an entrapment operation that led to the arrest of two persons in Quezon City on Friday, July 12.
The NBI received information that a certain “Atty. Ching” was selling the 1936 “Mango Harvesters” painting of Amorsolo for P3.5 million so they hatched an entrapment operation, NBI Director Jaime Santiago said.
On Friday they proceeded to the target area at Tomas Morato, Quezon City, and arrested Ritz Chona Castro Ching and Donecio Escobia Somaylo who delivered the painting for sale on instructions of “Atty. Ching”, Santiago said.
The two were arrested for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law, and presented for inquest proceedings before the Office of the Inquest Prosecutor of the Department of Justice.
The “Mango Harvesters” painting was stolen from the Hofileña Museum by a male and female pretending to be tourists on July 3.
NATIONAL MUSEUM
The National Museum of the Philippines confirmed that the recovered painting is the “Mango Harvesters”.
National Museum Director-General Jeremy Barns who inspected the painting issued a certification that it is the stolen art piece.
“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,“ the National Museum said.
REMAIN VIGILANT
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, thanked the NBI, Philippine National Police and everyone who contributed to the successful recovery of the painting.
“This successful operation is a proud moment and a testament to the unwavering dedication, relentless investigative efforts, and outstanding coordination of our law enforcement agencies”, he said.
“I would also like to acknowledge the collaboration and support from the local authorities, the museum staff, and the vigilant citizens whose cooperation was instrumental in identifying the suspects,” he added.
“This achievement serves as a reminder for us to remain vigilant in protecting and ensuring the preservation of our cultural treasures”, he said.
‘A MIRACLE’
A video of the recovered 88-year-old “Mango Harvesters” was shown by NBI agents to the Hofileña Museum administrator Rene Hofileña and Solomon Locsin, Negros Occidental Historical Council chair, to confirm if it was the one stolen.
“We just saw it on the video and we both confirmed that it was the one stolen although it was the brought to the National Museum for authentication,” Locsin said.
Locsin said he is very happy that the painting was found. “This is a miracle because other stolen Amorsolo’s are never found,” he said.
His fear was when the theft of the “Mango Harvesters” was reported in the media, the thieves who would not be unable to sell it would destroy it to cover their tracks, Locsin said.
“I’m happy that is has been found because this painting is important to Silay City,” he said.
Paintings of Filipino masters like Amorsolo are in the National or Ayala museums in Metro Manila that people in the province don’t have easy access to, Locsin said.
If there are such paintings in Silay the masses have access to the works of Filipino masters, too, he said.
The Hofileña house has been a community museum, the loss of the Amorsolo was like denying the locality access to a piece of work by a Filipino master, Locsin said.
“Everybody in Silay and Negros are happy that the Amorsolo has been found”, Rene Hofileña said.
REWARD
Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego said he was overjoyed that the painting was recovered as it is an import piece of art.
Silay City is known as the “Paris of Negros” because of it residents’ love for the arts its heritage mansions.
Gallego said he will give the P25,000 reward he offered to whoever helped the NBI recover the painting.*