In a dramatic twist, the Philippine National Police (PNP) traced the suspects behind the theft of the 88-year-old “Mango Harvesters” painting by national artist Fernando Amorsolo from the Hofileña Museum in Silay, Negros Occidental to Iloilo City. The painting was stolen on July 3.
Silay City Police Station Chief, Police Lieutenant Mark Anthony Darroca, confirmed that the suspects—a man and a woman who posed as tourists—took the painting from the museum and quickly fled back to Iloilo City.
From there, they flew to Manila, where the stolen artwork was intercepted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in an entrapment operation. The suspects were caught attempting to sell the painting for PHP 3.5 million.
According to the report, the suspects were hired by a man with a history of theft and petty crimes in Iloilo.
“We already have a lead, but we are still finalizing the investigation report,” said Darroca.
Darroca assured the public that no organized group was involved in the crime. The Silay Police are awaiting confirmation from a representative of the Hofileña family, and the suspects were positively identified by the pedicab driver who transported the thieves.
On July 11, 2024, the NBI-Special Task Force (NBI-STF) successfully apprehended the two individuals in Quezon City based on received information. The tip involved a certain “Atty. Ching” who was attempting to sell the 1936 painting “Mango Harvesters.” Bacolod City Police confirmed that this matched the record of the stolen painting from the Hofileña Museum.
The painting, valued at approximately PHP 10 million, is part of the Hofileña family’s art collection, curated by the late Ramon Hofileña, a renowned curator in the province.
