COA calls out PCGG over deterioration of paintings from Marcos collection

MANILA, Philippines - Six high-value paintings sequestered by the government from the Marcos family remain missing while many are deteriorating, the Commission on Audit (COA) disclosed as it called out the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) regarding the matter.

In its 2016 audit report recently published on its website, the COA said the six missing paintings should be in Malacañang’s antique houses, while most of the sequestered artworks of the Marcoses kept at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila were slightly damaged or have scratches.

“Measures to preserve and protect sequestered assets are not in place,
resulting in missing, faster deterioration and damage of artworks,” the COA report said, noting this was contrary to the powers and authority of the agency provided under Executive Order 1 dated Feb. 28, 1986.

State auditors said the 17 artworks/paintings found in Malacañang’s antique houses are all in good condition. However, six paintings reported in the 2012 inventory as “missing” still have not been located during last year’s inventory.

The COA recommended to the PCGG to coordinate with the Metropolitan Museum and Malacañang for “an investigation” into the missing items and to produce them.

The audit body further instructed the PCGG to issue property acknowledgment receipts (PARs) for the Metropolitan Museum artworks “to establish and determine the persons responsible for and accountable thereof.”

The COA said the PCGG must perform regular maintenance check to ensure that the items are properly stored and are in good condition; “and, if feasible, coordinate/consult with the museum’s experts on possible restoration on the framings/paintings/artworks stored thereat to prevent further deterioration and damage.”

Created by the late president Corazon Aquino in 1986 through EO 1, the PCGG is tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, his family, relatives and cronies, whether in the Philippines or abroad.

The COA pointed out the PCGG must also prevent the “destruction, concealment or disappearance” of evidence that would “frustrate or hamper the investigation” of alleged ill-gotten wealth.

The COA noted the paintings found to be deteriorating are still subject of a civil case before the Sandiganbayan.

The COA said during the inventory of the artworks conducted from May 31 to June 3, 2016, state auditors noted that 191 Naif paintings by Yugoslav farmers were stored in one-layer and two-layer wood racks at the basement of the Metropolitan Museum. 

The auditors said these paintings are still in relatively good condition but they are susceptible to further damage as most of them already have broken glass covers and damaged backing tapes infested with bugs, cockroaches and molds. 

At least six of the paintings have no glass cover while one painting has cracks on the print surface.

Meanwhile, state auditors said the Marcoses’ collection of Russian iconography consisting of 117 pieces “are not in good condition” as they have scratches and their frames already chipped off and dented.

Some paintings have holes in the backing tape due to cockroach and wood bug (bukbok) infestation, the COA report read.

The COA said it was also noticeable that some of the paintings are already fading due to absence of glass casings and frames.

The report added molds and fungi were also observed in some of the paintings “due to moisture” as the paintings “were just placed on the floor leaning against the walls.”