Cebu: The four pulpit panels from the Patrocinio de Maria Parish in Boljoon, Cebu are set to be returned to the church in March, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Garcia revealed in a statement that the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) plans to return the 19th-century panels, which caused a dispute among the Archdiocese of Cebu, Cebu provincial government, and the municipal government of Boljoon. The statement from the Cebu Capitol mentioned that this decision follows the Governor’s announcement of impending charges against NMP Director General Jeremy Barns for retaining the panels despite repeated demands for their return.

The panels, allegedly stolen from the parish in the late 1980s, reappeared at an NMP exhibit in February 2024. Archbishop Jose Palma and Garcia have consistently maintained that the panels are the rightful property of the Archdiocese of Cebu and hold significant heritage value for Cebuanos. They argue that the items were unlawfully acquired and could not be legitimately donated to the NMP by private collectors Edwin and Eileen Bautista.