National Museum, wildlife experts open for inspection this month

EXPERTS from the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) will be available anytime this month onwards to inspect the collection of religious images from Msgr. Cristobal Garcia of which some were suspected to be made of ivory.

Special agent Gregorio Algoso Jr. of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said they haven’t filed a case against Garcia yet because any complaint filed won’t prosper without evidence proving that the ivory images were illegally acquired.

The ivory icons were said to be included in Msgr. Garcia’s collection stored at the Collegium Societatis Angeli Pacis Immaculate Heart of Mary Refuge in Cansojong, Talisay City.

Both the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the NBI sought technical aid from the National Museum and the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) last Jan. to help them date six images from Garcia’s collection.

The country only joined the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species in 1981, which means that items made of ivory acquired after 1981 are considered illegal.

Algoso said they searched all the antique shops in Cebu but failed to find items made of ivory tusk.

Ariel Rica, DENR Ecosystems Management Specialist, said the National Museum told them they would send experts this summer.

Rica said PAWB director Theresa Mundita Lim told them that she talked with the Cultural Properties Division of the National Museum and was notified that their experts in ivory identification won’t be available until April 2013.

Lim said they will inform the regional office as soon as they can fix a schedule with the National Museum on the joint DENR-National Museum validation of the religious icons owned by Garcia.

These icons became controversial after National Geographic Magazine featured the Garcia icon collection which included six icons made of ivory.

Cebu was also identified in the “Blood Ivory” article as one of Africa’s trading points of ivory.

The ivory trade was banned since 1981 following the sharp decline in the global elephant population.

DENR-7 information officer Eddie Llamedo said they are monitoring the movement or presence of ivory tusk items in Central Visayas.

Monitoring units are already installed in all airports in Central Visayas; Cebu, Tagbilaran City, and Dumaguete City.

Llamedo also said they are inspecting the pet shops for animals being sold without any permit from DENR.

Algoso said wild birds from Palawan and reptiles from Mindanao are being delivered to Cebu before being shipped outside the country. Correspondent Carine M. Asutilla