The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recovered the stolen "Mango Harvesters" painting by Philippine National Artist Fernando Amorsolo and arrested two suspects on July 11.
In a press statement released by the NBI on Friday, the National Bureau of Investigation-Special Task Force (NBI-STF) conducted an entrapment operation on July 11 following a tip stating that a certain "Atty.Ching" sells the Amorsolo painting in Quezon City. This operation prompted the arrest of two suspects who offered the painting for P3.5M.
The entrapment operation targeted an area in Tomas Morato, Quezon City where the supposed selling of the painting would take place.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago mentioned that two unidentified subjects reportedly stole the 1936 "Mango Harvester" painting at the Hofileña Museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental on the morning of July 3, as per Bacolod City Police.
The NBI sent the painting to the National Museum of the Philippines for assessment. They then requested an authentication certificate further confirming the identity of the painting.
"Director-General Jeremy Barns was able to personally inspect the painting and assure the NBI that the painting is indeed the object that was stolen," the National Museum of the Philippines said in a statement on Friday.
"We congratulate the NBI for safely retrieving the stolen painting and reaffirm our commitment to assisting our law enforcement agencies in any appropriate way," they added.
Upon confirmation that the painting was indeed the stolen Amorsolo painting, NBI arrested the suspects for possession and selling stolen property in violation of the Anti-Fencing Law.
