A tourist is now a suspect for stealing a multimillion-peso painting of national artist Fernando Amorsolo from the Hofileña Museum in Silay City, on Wednesday, July 3.
The painting titled as “Mango Harvesters,” and an Amorsolo work in 1936, was among the museum’s exhibits at the second floor. It is roughly a size of a poster.
Silay Tourism Officer Gerle Sulmaca said Rene “Boy” Hofileña, who manages the museum, told her that the museum was understaffed at the time of the incident, and there was no one monitoring the front door when the first batch of tourists left.
The missing painting was believed to have been taken during the period when the guide left the first batch of tourists on the second floor to welcome another group.
Museum staff normally would ask tourists to store large bags in a room during the tour but on Wednesday this protocol was missed as the museum was understaffed according to naratives shared to Sulmaca.
The staff only discovered the painting missing after the first tourist group left.
Solomon Locsin, Negros Occidental Historical Council chairman, has issued an appeal for help in the recovery of “this important piece of Philippine art”.
Those who may have any information on the missing painting are urged to call the Silay police at 09985987443 or 09989674432.
The Hofileña Museum houses a collection of artworks by prominent Filipino artists, including Amorsolo, Juan Luna, and Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo.
