Gov. Gwen Garcia is getting impatient at the long-overdue return of four pulpit panels stolen from the Church of Boljoon and are in possession of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP).
One remedy she is seriously considering is the filing of proper charges in court against NMP, led by its director Jeremy Barnes.
“I’m going to have this studied very carefully, but prior to that, just so everything is laid down, we will call for that meeting with the Archdiocese. I hope (Cebu) Archbishop (Jose) Palma will be available. I’d like to hear it directly from him,” Gov. Gwen told Cebu media on January 3.
The Governor, through intermediaries, had asked the Archbishop that she be given the special power of attorney (SPA) so that she may pursue this matter in court — the panels being the property of the Church.
However, the Governor was informed by the same intermediaries that the Archbishop is reserving the right to sue the NMP. The Governor realized, however, that she may no longer need an SPA from the Church to be able to file such cases in court.
“More than a religious icon, that is also part of our heritage,” Gov. Gwen said of the panels, adding that the Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991 has empowered her to pursue legal remedies in protecting and preserving Cebu’s cultural heritage in the name of general welfare.
The Governor also criticized Barnes for NMP’s hard-headedness in returning the panels to Boljoon’s Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Parish, where such panels were stolen in the late 1980s.
“If you cannot even recognize, the fact that National Museum na, ikay head diha, you cannot even recognize how to respect cultural heritage, then I don’t know what you’re doing in that job. This was not donated by the Catholic Church to them. This was donated by an entity who cannot prove that they own these. How can you donate something that you do not own?” the Governor noted.
She also reminded Barnes that under the Anti-Fencing Law (Presidential Decree No. 1612), the holder of stolen items is just as liable as the thief or robber.
“Gikawat man ni. Kung hindi mo ito naintindihan, ninakaw ito. Ninakaw!” the Governor said, intentionally code-switching so that Barnes may understand.