NCCA probing provenance of Botong's painting 'Camote Diggers'

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is now investigating how “Camote Diggers”, the last and unfinished work of National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco, was taken out of Malacañang.

“First we are investigating how it was taken out of Malacañang. We are writing letters of inquiry to Malacañang, Yuchengco Museum and Botong's heirs,” NCCA chairman Virgilio Almario told GMA News.

Botong’s heirs sought the assistance of the NCCA to ensure that the controversial Botong masterpiece is “donated to a public national institution.”

The “Camote Diggers” fetched P23.4 million at Leon Gallery's mid-year auction last June 22.

It became the subject of controversy when Botong’s heirs inquired from Leon Gallery how the painting landed with the auction house when it was supposedly in Malacañang.

In a letter dated June 13, the family’s counsel Arnel Victor Valeña told Leon Gallery that the “Camote Diggers” was delivered by Botong’s widow Rosalina to Malacañang in the 70’s “as a way of thanking the government thru the Marcoses for all the support given to their family.”

After the auction, Leon Gallery announced that the consignor, with the buyer’s agreement, will donate the painting to a museum to “avoid further controversy and the possible politicization of this great masterpiece.”

For Botong’s heirs, this is where the NCCA may come in.

“As a matter of fact, our clients believe that it is best donated to the Filipino people in the care of the NCCA, to be displayed in Malacañang or the National Museum,” Atty. Valeña told the NCCA in a letter.

“They are also eager, in return, to provide the necessary assistance to the NCCA to ensure the safety of the painting and its availability to the Filipinos,” he added.

Valeña pointed out that the NCCA has the mandate to “conserve, promote and protect the nation’s historical and cultural heritage.”

According to Valeña, the NCCA also has the power to deputize law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to enforce the provisions of RA 10066 and its implementing rules and regulations, including but not limited to, the objective of the law to protect, preserve, conserve and promote the nation’s cultural heritage, its property and histories, and the ethnicity of local communities.”

Sought for comment, one of the heirs of Botong explained to GMA News why her family moved to inquire about the painting from Mrs. Marcos and the Leon Gallery.

“Our cause is to protect and to preserve the legacy of our grandfather,” she said.

“While the consignor signified a noble gesture of donating the painting to a public national institution of his choice, we believe that the “Camote Diggers” should be returned to Malacañang or should be placed in the National Museum for public access and appreciation,” she added.

The Leon Gallery website states that the painting is a “property of a very distinguished gentleman.”

Previous reports said he bought the painting in 2004 from a politician’s son.

Senator-elect Imee Marcos said Tuesday she was not aware of how "Camote Diggers" was removed from Malacañang.

“Oo, naibigay talaga ‘yun ni Mrs. Francisco sa aking mga magulang. Nakasabit ‘yun sa Malacañang. Last ko nakita 'yun andu'n pa. Kung paano nawala, wala na akong alam,” she told reporters when asked about the matter. —KG, GMA News