Cebu Governor Battles National Museum Over Historic Church Panels

via Rappler, 05 April 2024: Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has escalated a dispute with the National Museum of the Philippines over the legality of donated pulpit panels from Boljoon’s heritage church. The Cebu provincial government challenges the museum’s acquisition, alleging the donors lacked ownership, thus questioning the donation’s legality. Amidst threats of legal action and demands for a serious response from the museum, the controversy highlights significant concerns over heritage preservation and legal ownership.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia criticizes what she describes as the lackadaisical response of the National Museum to her call for the return of Boljoon’s old heritage church panels
CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu provincial government has questioned the legality of a donation made to the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), involving four historical pulpit panels from Boljoon, Cebu, asserting that it was defective since the donors allegedly did not own the panels.

Lawyers of the provincial government argued that the NMP should have exercised caution in receiving the questioned donation from collector couple Edwin and Aileen Bautista, especially since the items originated from a heritage church in the province.

“You cannot donate a thing which you do not own. Donation requires that the owner must have dominion over the property donated. You cannot give what you do not have,” said lawyer Benjamin Cabrido Jr., a consultant of the capitol, on Tuesday, April 3.

Source: Cebu disputes legality of pulpit panels donation to National Museum