National Museum to house paintings seized from Marcoses

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan named the National Museum as the official repository of 15 paintings seized by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last September 30 from the Marcos family in connection with a pending ill-gotten wealth case.

In a 5-page resolution issued late Monday, February 2, the Sandiganbayan’s Special First Division ordered the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Sheriff and Security Services Office to move the artworks to the National Museum from the BSP’s Compartment No. 12, where the NBI turned the artworks over originally for safekeeping.

In issuing the directive, the special anti-graft court noted the manifestation of National Museum Director Jeremy Barns that the museum “has the technical, curatorial, and organizational expertise needed to properly care for and manage the subject paintings.”

Barns added that the museum is ready to assist the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and the Sandiganbayan to preserve the condition of the artworks while under court custody pending final determination of legal ownership.

A list submitted by Sheriff Albert de la Cruz showed that among the seized paintings were:

• 3 copies of “Madonna and Child” by Michelangelo Buonarroti
• 11 works by Paule Gobillard, including 5 versions of “Vase De Fleurs (Vase of Flowers)
• “Femme Au Chapeau” (Woman with a Hat)
• “Paysage”
• “Jeune Femme En Rouge”
• “Coupe De Fleurs”
• “Panier De Fruits”
• “Jeune Femme S’habillant/ Chavalet”
• a Picasso Replica Bass strokes

BSP Cash Department manager Divina Hernandez told court her office could not vouch for the authenticity of any of the artworks taken from the Marcos residence in San Juan City.

BSP officials likewise said they had no suitable long-term storage for the paintings, some of which already showed signs of damage and deterioration.

The Sandiganbayan issued a garnishment order on 156 pieces of art by European artists last September 29, following a declaration that these were part of the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family.

Aside from the 15 paintings now with BSP, 9 other artworks displayed in the office of Ilocos Norte Representatives Imelda Marcos at the House of Representatives have also been attached by court sheriffs.

Imelda Marcos, 85-year old widow of former President Ferdinand Marcos petitioned the court to lift the garnishment and return the 15 paintings on the ground that the civil case on which the Sandiganbayan directive was based had been closed 11 years earlier. – Rappler.com