CEBU CITY — “Don’t mess with me.”

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia did not mince words when she chided the head of the National Museum of the Philippines who will be charged for failure to return four pulpit panels that are in NMP possession after these were reported stolen from the Church in the 1980s.

CEBU Gov. Gwen Garcia (left) huddles with officials of the Archdiocese of Cebu while the five pulpit panels belonging to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon, Cebu are flashed on a TV screen. (Calvin Cordova)

Garcia disclosed that Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma issued a Special Power of Attorney empowering her to file charges against Jeremy Barns, NMP director general.

A fuming Garcia announced in a press conference on Monday, Jan. 13, that she will file charges against Barns for his supposed stubbornness in promptly returning the four pulpit panels to the Archdiocese of Cebu, particularly the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima in Boljoon.

“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,” Garcia said.

These antique 19th century panels have carved depictions of Saints Leo the Great, Augustine of Hippo, Thomas of Villanueva, Ambrose of Milan, and Gregory the Great.

The missing pulpit panels resurfaced when they were donated by couple Edwin and Aileen Bautista and  displayed in an exhibit in February last year.

After the panels resurfaced, Garcia wrote Barns last Feb. 26 asking for the return of the religious items to the Archbishop of Cebu.

The municipal council of Boljoon and the provincial board passed separate resolutions asking the NMP to return the pulpit panels.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco also wrote Barns expressing support for the return of the pulpit panels.

Gov. Garcia said she only got a reply from Barns last April 2 that she said violated the Code of Conduct requiring government officials to respond to official communications within 15 days.

Despite efforts exerted, the pulpits panels have yet to be returned.

“The issue has persisted for too long. Each day that passes continues to hurt those who value our culture,” said Garcia.

Lawyer John Sepulveda, Capitol legal consultant, said charges for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law of 1979, Sections 3(e) and (f) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and breaches of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees will be filed against Barns.

“As soon as all affidavits are executed, we will immediately file the charges against Barns,” Sepulveda said.

The Bautistas may also be charged for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law, Sepuveda said.

The Capitol may also file an additional charge against Barns for violating the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, Sepulveda said.

Aside from failing to promptly return the panels, Fr. Brian Brigoli, chairman of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, disclosed that the NMP has proceeded to conduct restoration efforts on the panels even without the approval of Palma.

The agreement stated that the restoration must be done in Boljoon, there will be a technology transfer, and the NMP must be assured that the panels that will be returned are the originals.

Garcia was also upset that the NMP proceeded with the restoration efforts without complying with the agreement.

“One can only imagine why the need to do restoration in the secrecy of wherever these works are being done, without any witness from any of us. Very suspicious actions. To say the least, disrespectful, insulting to the Archdiocese, to the Catholic Church, and to the Cebuanos,” Garcia said.

Aside from failing to return the panels, the NMP even requested the Archdiocese to turn over the fifth panel in its possession.

Garcia said Barns must be held liable for the delay in the return of the religious panels.

“Don’t mess with me. When it comes to the protection of Cebuano heritage and the Cebuanos, make no mistake about it: I’m a very dangerous enemy because I will stand up for the Cebuanos and what is our heritage, our culture,” Garcia said.