Old Iloilo chapel ruined by diggings awaits rehab

ILOILO CITY—A Spanish-era mortuary chapel that was damaged by treasure hunters in San Joaquin town in Iloilo province has not been rehabilitated, more than three months after authorities declared the structure unsafe.

While debris and loosened soil have been removed from the Campo Santo, the structure at the town’s cemetery remains closed to tourists and residents due to its unstable condition, said Erly Alunan, municipal tourism officer.

Alunan said the National Museum of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) had not started rehabilitation work pending completion of a technical and structural assessment, and the recommendation and release of its budget.

Built in 1892, the Campo Santo and cemetery are among the sites declared by the National Museum as national cultural treasures. Digging for treasure is prohibited by law in such structures.

The National Museum earlier sealed off the Campo Santo after it was severely weakened after a a hole, measuring 60 feet in diameter, was dug under its foundation. The excavation ruined portions of the base of the northern wall.

The hole also damaged pathways used by visitors to reach graves and tombs.

On Feb. 24, 10 workers, who had been digging for treasure inside the mortuary-chapel, were arrested by policemen but were freed after posting bail of P13,800 each.

The workers, along with the town’s former parish priest, Nelson Silvela, are facing a complaint for violation of Republic Act No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009) at the Iloilo provincial prosecutor’s office.

Silvela, who has since been relieved, is also facing administrative proceedings in the Archdiocese of Jaro. He is believed to have ordered the diggings, but police remain clueless on who had financed it.

Residents have repeatedly called on authorities to dig deep into the case and identify “powerful” personalities behind the treasure-hunting activities.

The priest has not issued a statement since the arrest of the workers who, witnesses have said, stayed at the convent during the diggings.