An 88-year-old painting titled “Mango Harvesters” by renowned national artist Fernando Amorsolo was stolen from the Hofileña Museum in Silay, Negros Occidental.
The broad daylight heist occurred at around 10 a.m. on July 3, the museum said.
According to Lt. Col. Anthony Mark Darroca, head of the Silay City Municipal Police, a tour guide noticed the painting was missing during a routine inspection of the premises and reported the incident at around 11 a.m. on the same day.
CCTV footage from the museum revealed the suspects entered the museum posing as tourists.
The video showed the thiefs – a man and a woman – discreetly removing the painting while blending in with other visitors and exploiting blind spots within the museum.
Darroca said the police have identified a person of interest with a history of theft and similar offenses.
“We ask anyone who sees this painting or hears about someone trying to sell it to immediately inform the police or report it to any nearby police station,” Darroca said.
The arts and culture community in Negros Occidental also called for help to locate the painting, a 12×18 masterpiece painted by Amorsolo in 1936.
“Let us all help to find the stolen Amorsolo from the Hofileña Heritage House,” the Art Association of Bacolod-Negros, headed by Tey Sevilleno, said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
Solomon Lopez-Locsin, chair of the Negros Occidental Historical Council, said those who have information or sighting of the artwork can contact the Silay Component City Police Station at 0998-5987443 or 0998-9674432.
