Historic Boljoon church panels set for Cebu return in March

Historic Boljoon church panels set for Cebu return in March

/ 06:27 AM January 20, 2025

(File photo from PNA)

(File photo from PNA)

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The four pulpit panels from the Patrocinio de Maria Parish in Boljoon, Cebu, are set to be returned to the church in March, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced on Friday.

Garcia revealed in a statement that the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) plans to return the 19th-century panels, which caused a dispute among the Archdiocese of Cebu, the Cebu provincial government, and the municipal government of Boljoon.

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“This comes only after the Governor’s announcement that charges will be filed against NMP Director General Jeremy Barns for continuing to possess the panels despite repeated demands for their return,” the statement from the Cebu Capitol read.

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The panels, reportedly stolen from the parish in the late 1980s, resurfaced at an NMP exhibit in February 2024.

Archbishop Jose Palma and Garcia consistently argued that the panels belong to the Archdiocese of Cebu and the heritage of Cebuanos.

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They contend the items were unlawfully acquired and could not be validly donated to the NMP by private collectors Edwin and Eileen Bautista.

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