The Cebu Provincial Government will file initial four cases against the director-general of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP). 

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in a press conference on January 13, 2025, announced that Capitol will file criminal charges against NMP Director-General Jeremy Barns for his failure to return four pulpit panels of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santissima in Boljoon town, southern Cebu. 

To recall, the four pulpit panels stolen allegedly from Boljoon Church in the 1980s have resurfaced in the possession of the NMP. 

Charges include violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Anti-Fencing Law, Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and further violations of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. 

“We have had enough, Mr. Barns. We will not take this lying down. I will leave no stone unturned until justice will be given to the Cebuanos,” Governor Garcia said. 

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma backs Capitol's legal battle over four panels that trace provenance from the Boljoon Church pulpit.

Archbishop Palma issued a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) in favor of Cebu Province to pursue legal actions against the NMP on his behalf. 

In February 2024, the clamor for the return of pulpit panels to the Municipality of Boljoon rang out. 

Private collectors Edwin and Aileen Bautista donated the panels to NMP during a formal turnover on February 14, 2024. The panels were seen in an exhibit of the NMP. 

Hence, the Cebu Provincial Government, the Local Government Unit of Boljoon in southern Cebu, the Archdiocese of Cebu, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santissima and its parishioners called for the repatriation of the four pulpit panels. 

PULPIT PLATFORM

Inside the Boljoon Church, there is a pulpit where the priests or friars used to stand to hold Mass. 

"That was designed because there was no microphone during the time. Mayroon siyang tinawag na tunabos in Spanish, that is the sounding board that could amplify the voice of the priest," Rev. Fr. Brian Brigoli, chairman of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission of the Cultural Heritage of the Church, pointed out. 

In front of the pulpit are six panels, which were carved in the 19th century. One of the panels had an image of Saint Leo the Great, while the other four panels had Saint Thomas of Villanueva, Saint Ambrose of Milan, Saint  Gregory the Great, and Saint Augustine of Hippo.

But in 1980, an 88-year-old parishioner was shocked to find that four of the six panels had gone missing.

"Bata pa 'ko, linggo-linggo nagsisimba kami dito sa simbahan. Pagsimba namin ng linggo diyan kami nakaupo sa ilalim ng pulpito ng aking asawa, nakita namin na wala na 'yung dingding," Charlie Mendez said.

Fr. Brigoli said that the parish priest at that time was reported as the perpetrator of the taking of the panels.

“Yung alleged larceny o robbery in 1980s, may kaso na pong na-file against the incumbent priest noon. But, it was dismissed because of the failure to prosecute," said Atty. Benjamin Cabrido, Jr. of the Cebu Provincial Capitol legal team. 

On February 13, 2024 or more than four decades after the incident, Boljoon's former tour guide, Orland James Romarate, noticed a strong resemblance between the four stolen panels and the religious artifacts posted online.

Fr. Brigoli said that of the six panels, four are with the NMP, one is in the possession of the museum in Boljoon, while the other one is still unaccounted for and has not been found.

Because of this, the NMP was urged to return the sacred panels to Boljoon Church.

Garcia stressed that these are religious artifacts and a cultural treasure.

“Because they belong to what has since been declared a National Cultural Treasure - Boljoon Church, we request the National Museum to return these treasures so that they may be rightfully put back where they belong,” she added. 

(via GMA Integrated News with Sugbo News)