A valuable painting that could be a missing Picasso piece has been spotted hanging on the wall of the Philippine president’s mum’s house.
Pablo Picasso’s Reclining Woman VI was apparently spotted at the home of Imelda Marcos, mother of the presumptive president Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr, this week.
Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte won the presidency and vice presidency during the 2022 Philippine presidential election on 9th May.
He is the son of Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled under martial law from 1972 until 1981 and kept most of his powers until being deposed in 1986.
During his rule, known for its corruption and brutality, Marcos Sr, who died in 1989 aged 72, reportedly plundered valuable assets worth an estimated USD 10 billion.
Over 160 paintings were included among Marcos’ most valuable treasures, including artwork by Van Gogh, Monet, and Matisse.
According to reports, a task force was set up to seize the family’s ill-gotten assets, and the Picasso painting was included among the list of assets seized during a raid at the family’s home in San Juan in 2014.
The Sandiganbayan, a special collegial court in the Philippines, ordered the family to surrender further assets in 2019.
In the 2019 documentary about the Marcos family, Lauren Greenfield’s ‘The Kingmaker’, the Reclining Woman VI painting made an appearance.
The painting was again spotted on the wall of Imelda Marcos’ home during the election this week when a TV Patrol crew visited the family for an interview.
However, local media said the Picasso painting could be a copy as court records show it was seized in 2014.
Vic Rodriguez, spokesperson for Bongbong Marcos, deflected questions about the painting during a press briefing on 13th May.
It is unclear if the local authorities plan to look into the matter.
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Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News
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