The pulpit panels on display.
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Archdiocese of Cebu requested the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) on Tuesday to return the pulpit panels of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santissima in Boljoon, Cebu.Cebu Archbishop Most Rev. Jose Palma said the removal of the panels was considered 鈥渟acrilegious鈥� and these should not be treated as mere artworks.
鈥淲hile we understand the National Museum鈥檚 desire to exhibit the same to the general public, we have to assert the sacral nature of these panels. They are integral to the patrimony of the church as part of her missionary work and thus considered sacred,鈥� Archbishop Palma said in a statement.
鈥淭heir illegal removal constitutes a sacrilege. They should never have been treated, then or now, as mere artworks for museum exhibition, much less for private appreciation by the collectors who purchased them,鈥� it added.
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On February 13, the NMP received the pulpit panels, which depicted the patron of the Augustinian Order, St. Augustine of Hippo, from collectors Edwin and Aileen Bautista.
Palma also said that the archdiocese 鈥渁sserts its ownership鈥� of the panels, and requests for their return. He also hoped for a 鈥渃onstructive dialogue鈥� between the two parties.
鈥淕iven the foregoing, the Archdiocese of Cebu hereby asserts its ownership of these panels and requests their immediate return to Boljoon at the pulpit where they were surreptitiously removed,鈥� Palma said.
鈥淚t is also my ardent hope that a proper venue for constructive dialogue be provided so as to meet the befitting terms of the parties concerned,鈥� he added.
On Monday, the local government of Cebu also requested the return of the panels.
In a statement also on Monday, the NMP expressed eagerness for dialogue concerning the panels.