Stolen Amorsolo recovered; NBI nabs 2

The search for the 88-year-old painting by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo stolen from a family-run museum in Negros Occidental ended in Quezon City on Thursday with the arrest of two persons who offered the masterpiece in the art market for P3.5 million.

At a press briefing on Friday, National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago said they set up an entrapment to arrest the suspects—Ritz Chona Ching Castro and Donecio Somaylo Escobia—who delivered the 12×18-inch painting “Mango Harvesters,” which was stolen from Hofileña Museum in Silay City on July 3.

Santiago said the NBI special task force received information that a certain “Atty. Ching” was selling the Amorsolo painting in Quezon City.

The NBI agent, who posed as a buyer, was able to buy the 1936 painting for P3.5 million at a cafe on Tomas Morato Street, the meeting place set by “Atty. Ching.”

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