Debate Over ‘Stolen’ Church Panels Engulfs Cebu and National Museum

via various sources, 27 – 29 February 2024: The National Museum of the Philippines and Cebu officials are embroiled in a dispute over pulpit panels from a heritage church in Boljoon, Cebu, which resurfaced as a donation after being considered lost for decades. National Museum Chairman Andoni Aboitiz urges restraint in labeling the panels as stolen, while Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and local heritage advocates demand their return, citing unauthorized removal from a national historical landmark.

National Museum of the Philippines Chairman Andoni Aboitiz on Tuesday, February 27, said an investigation into how old pulpit panels from a heritage church in Cebu province was underway even as he cautioned against those referring to them as stolen.

“Please stop calling the pulpit panels stolen…. Nothing has been decided yet,” Aboitiz, who met with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, told Rappler.

The pulpit panels being referred to are the ones from the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon town, which were thought to have been lost for decades but resurfaced as a donation to the National Museum.

Local Catholic church authorities and the provincial government have separately referred to them as stolen pulpit panels.

Source: National Museum cautions vs labeling heritage church panels as ‘stolen’ property

See also:

• Tell it to SunStar: Missing pulpit panels must be returned to Boljoon | SunStar, 02 Mar 2024
• Historic Cebu Pulpit Panels Spark Unity: Church and Augustinians Urge National Museum for Return | BNN, 28 Feb 2024
• Augustinians support Cebu on return of historic church pulpit panels | Inquirer, 28 Feb 2024
• Boljoon panels must be restored where they belong: Galeos | Politiko, 28 Feb 2024
• Missing since 1988: Cebu Gov wants immediate return of church’s antique wooden panels | Bilyonaro, 27 Feb 2024
• Guv writes to NMP urging return of ‘stolen’ pulpit panels | SunStar, 27 Feb 2024
• Cebu guv reiterates return of church’s wooden panel | PIA, 27 Feb 2024
• Augustinian friars support calls for return of missing Boljoon pulpit panels | Cebu Daily News, 27 Feb 2024
• Augustinian friars join call for return of church panels | GMA, 27 Feb 2024