Stolen Fernando Amorsolo painting recovered, two suspects arrested
The stolen 88-year-old painting by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo has been recovered by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and is now at the hands of the National Museum of the Philippines.
In a statement, the museum stated that they have received the artwork titled Mango Harvesters (1936) from the NBI on July 12 for assessment on whether it's the same piece that was stolen from the Hofileña Museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental last July 3.
"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," the museum announced.
"He then issued a certification to this effect at the request of the NBI," they added.
The institution congratulated the NBI for safely retrieving the stolen painting and reaffirmed their commitment to assisting law enforcement agencies in incidents like such.
"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," they highlighted.
In a separate statement by the NBI, the government agency said that it has arrested two individuals in Quezon City involved in the theft of the artwork.
They were caught after the NBI-Special Task Force received information that a certain "Atty. Ching" was selling Amorsolo painting in the area. According to the subject, he could bring the Mango Harvesters painting of the national artist to possible buyers, which was sold for only P3.5 million.
Operatives quickly acted on the tip and arranged an entrapment operation on July 11 in Tomas Morato, where the supposed selling of the Amorsolo piece would take place.
The two suspects, identified as Ritz Chona Ching Castro and Donecio Somaylo Escobia, were then caught delivering the painting as instructed by Atty. Ching and were apprehended by authorities.
They are facing charges of possession and selling stolen property in violation of Presidential Decree 1612, otherwise known as the Anti-Fencing Law.
Known as the "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art," Amorsolo was the first National Artist of the Philippines. He became famous for his works that mainly put the spotlight on rural landscapes in the country.
His work Mango Harvesters is just one of his many paintings displayed at the Hofileña Museum, a heritage house built in 1934 by the late Manuel Severino Hofileña and Gilda Ledesma Hojilla. It also houses antiques and artworks by Juan Luna and Jose Rizal, among others.