MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested two suspects in the theft of a painting of national artist Fernando Amorsolo from a museum in Silay City in Negros Occidental.
The 88-year-old painting, titled the “Mango Harvester,” was stolen from the Hofileña Museum on July 3.
On Thursday, suspects Ritz Chona Ching and Donecio Somaylo tried to sell the piece for P3.5 million.
They were arrested in an NBI entrapment operation along Tomas Morato in Quezon City.
Amorsolo painted the piece in 1936. It is currently valued between P8 million to P12 million. The painting was turned over to the custody of the National Museum after authentication.
Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Darroca, Silay City police chief, said one of the suspects stole the painting by hiding it inside a bag during a tour at the Silay museum.
NBI agents brought the piece yesterday to the National Museum, which issued a certification verifying its authenticity.