Inside job seen in theft of Juan Sajid Imao's sculpture worth P500k in Luneta

(Updated 2:58 p.m.) - With every passing day, the plot thickens.

 

According to the report of Manila Police Department theft and robbery division head, Chief Inspector Francisco Vargas, the theft of the 80-kilogram bronze-and-cement sculpture stolen from the Kanlungan ng Sining area in Rizal Park might have been an inside job by someone from the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) themselves.

 

In a classic case of “now you see it, now you don't,” the sculpture worth P500,000 created and donated by award-winning artist Juan Sajid Imao and titled “UnmasKing” was only reported missing on Oct. 19, three weeks after renovations on the area were finished, as pointed out in a News to Go interview aired on Thursday.

During the interview, two pictures of the sculpture were compared: one a stock photo of the sculpture and another taken accidentally on Sept. 26, a few days after area renovations were finished, as part of the National Park Development Committee's (NPDC) documentation. 

 

“Ang kapulisan din ngayon ay nagtataka kung bakit hindi napansin na ganoon na katagal. Mismong sa bahay, nasa harapan mo na mismo, at almost three weeks ago bago mo malaman na wala na pala 'yung sculpture,” said Kenneth Montegrande of the NPDC in the same interview.

 

The sculpture was located directly in front of the Artists' Association of the Philippines (AAP) Gallery, 50 meters from the gate. It was installed directly on the ground and would have taken several people and some time to remove.

In a separate phone interview with GMA News Online, Montegrande said that the police were ruling out the contractors and landscapers, as they had finished renovations a few days before Sept. 26, when the photographs were taken.
 

The NPDC requires proper turnover, inventory, and endorsements regarding the artworks installed by the AAP. This is to let the security guards know which works require appropriate attention and security in the area.

 

Montegrande, however, noted that the adequate number of security guards serves the main purpose of ensuring the safety of visitors, as well as the facilities. He also implied that the NPDC was not informed as to the worth of the sculpture.

 

“Ang pinagtataka natin dito ay, even the security guards at sa part ng NPDC naman ay wala namang nakakaalam kung gaano kamahal ito at mismong mga artists (lang) ang nakakaalam nito,” he said. He noted that even so, the AAP has told other media organizations that they deemed the sculpture to be worth around P200,000 to P400,000, though the assessment was at half a million pesos.

He also stated that the AAP reported the theft to the security guards of the surrounding area and not the MPD, which has left investigators wondering why they were not immediately informed.

GMA News Online has yet to receive a reply from AAP as of posting time.

 

The fate of 'UnmasKing'

 

In other countries, there is an underground market for stolen art, but art dealer Willy Marbella stated in a phone interview with News to Go that he has never heard of such an occurrence in the Philippines.

 

“Most likely, economics 'yan,” said Marbella. “Pinutol nila para matunaw nila...para mabenta nila 'yung weight.” He thinks it very likely that the bronze sculpture will be recycled.

 

When asked what he thinks is the purpose of public art, Marbella answered, “Art basically is good for the soul. So, you know, you put art out there in the open para 'yung ibang tao na hindi kayang pumunta sa mga museums, hindi kayang pumunta sa mga galleries, they can have access to all these pieces and hopefully, in the process...to feed the soul, that is what public art is for.”

 

“Nakakalungkot kasi basically, hindi na-se-secure, unlike in other countries na ang mga piyesa ay talagang hindi nagagalaw,” continued Marbella. “But more than that, I think ang problema riyan, number one, is economics—'yun nga, 'yung 'Ay, puwede nating ibenta 'to.'

 

“Secondly, is our total lack of respect for ourselves, respect for artists, respect for the environment—I mean, that's the way I see it.”

 

But Montegrande does not believe that the sculpture's destiny does not lie in the way of melted bronze.

 

“Kung ito ay tutunawin, kung ordinaryong manananso ang kukuha nito, eh sabi nga po ng imbestigador, mukhang hindi na mag-aaksaya ng panahon ito para tanggalin o lagariin at marami ngang sculpture o artwork na mas madaling tanggalin at mas malapit doon sa gate,” said Montegrande.

 

“So tinatanggal na rin 'yung angulo na ito ay tinanso,” added Montegrande. “Hopefully po, hindi ito tinunaw, 'no? Pero ang report po ng kapulisan sa atin kahapon, sila'y nagpapakalat ng kanilang mga tauhan sa mga junk shop upang tignan din at i-check kung ito nga ba ay napunta doon.”

 

Though the two art aficionados disagreed on what may have happened to “UnmasKing,” host Howie Severino best summed it up when he concluded the interview with, “Whatever its fate, sana manatili pa rin itong art.”

 

The aftermath

 

At the moment, authorities are studying whether to increase the number of CCTV cameras in Rizal Park, locating a few within the Kanlungan ng Sining itself, as part of measures for tighter security. 

 

Montegrande emphasized that no one is blaming anyone and that the different groups are focusing on working together to better improve security.

 

“Sinasabi natin na itong art piece na 'to—kami po ay naniniwala—na ito ay isang showcase ng mga Pilipino kung gaano kagaling ang talent ng isang Pilipino,” said Montegrande, stressing the importance of guarding this particular piece as well as the remaining works of art. —Vida Cruz/KG, GMA News