Noli and Fili Stolen (Group 5) PDF

N o li an d F i li l e Storoup 5n by: G A R A S I GA N RI O A N D REI M ALM A I D E U N T A L A N R E S JH U N G U FLO E N A G U I L A R A R D O R E IV...

N o li an d F i li l e Storoup 5n by: G A R A S I GA N RI O A N D REI M ALM A I D E U N T A L A N R E S JH U N G U FLO E N A G U I L A R A R D O R E IV LEON I O A R K P A L E R A C E J O H N M MORALD In Rizal's time, During Rizal's time, the Permanent Commission of Censorship suggested a total ban on bringing in, copying, or sharing the Noli Me Tangere. The copies of the Fili, on the other hand, were destroyed by Customs in Manila upon shipment to the Philippines. The rare surviving copies ni l a m s Ma of the novels were secretly Custo purchased. That was the fate of the first editions of Rizal's novels, But that is nothing compared to what happened to their original manuscripts about 70 years The original manuscripts of the Noli and Fili (along with that of the poem "Mi Ultimo Adios") were stolen from the National Library on the morning r a ry l Li b t i on a a of December 8,1961. N F i l i i an d After some days, the thieves who N o l outsmarted the building's sleepy guards sent a ransom note "made of newspaper cutouts" to the National Library (Ocampo, 2012, p. 148).  The robbers demanded ₱3 million Alejandro “Anding Roces” pesos for the return of the original texts, else Rizal's handiworks would be burned. To summarize the "historic robbery," the then Education Secretary Alejandro “Anding Roces” personally met with the burglars and, after some various negotiations, had retrieved the documents without paying any single centavo.  The manuscripts were returned on installment basis-the "Ultimo Adios" during the first meeting, the El Fili on the next negotiation, and lastly, the Noli. There was a time when the demanded ransom was reduced to 100,000 pesos and then to 10,000 pesos (Ocampo, 2012, p. 148). But recognizing perhaps that they would get nothing from the government, the robbers ultimately settled on returning the expensive documents, free of charge. Many still find this "charge-free return of the manuscripts" strange and mind-blowing. e r s Robb But the following additional details about the story could perhaps shed light on the account. During the negotiations, one of the burglars related to Roces that on the night of the robbery. "The Rizal manuscripts suddenly became heavy [as] a cavan of b er s rice" The thief, thus, exclaimed, R o b "The manuscript must be holy or haunted!" (Ocampo, 2012, p. 148). One robber even claimed that he read Rizal's handwritten novels and described the feeling. "Ang sarap basahin, kinikilabutan ako!" (Ocampo, 2012, p. 148).  At the end, three suspects were identified as possibly involved in the robbery case, but the primary suspect being pointed to was Cavrido, which is why only he was imprisoned. Pos sible Mo the tive Inci s B den e hind t  Prank or Hoax One of the initial theories proposed that the theft could have been a prank. Some speculated that it was a misguided attempt by an individual or a group to create a splash at the International Congress on Rizal, which was taking place around the same time. This theory suggested a kind of theatricality, where the act was more about capturing attention than acquiring the manuscripts for personal gain.  Monetary Gain Another prevalent theory centered on the motive of financial profit. The theft potentially attracted individuals seeking to sell the manuscripts on the black market.  Monetary Gain The combined historical and cultural value of the three works could make them extremely lucrative, appealing to both avid collectors and nefarious market players. The possibility of ransom must also be considered, as a ransom note demanding a significant sum was discovered, which would support the notion of a crime motivated by monetary gain.  Fanaticism Among Collectors There were also suggestions that the theft may have been engineered by a fanatical collector or admirer of José Rizal. This theory posited that the thief might have viewed themselves as a custodian of Rizal's legacy and believed that they were entitled to possess these masterpieces—albeit through nefarious means.  Fanaticism Among Collectors This has the potential to illustrate the ideological fervor surrounding Rizal as a national hero, inspiring actions that deviate from legal or moral standards.  Political Motivations Speculation arose that the theft could have had political undertones. Some theorists proposed that it might have been orchestrated to discredit the government’s Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission, especially given the high-profile nature of the event Th a t ’s why i m ign freak celebrating Rizal’s contributions to s t e a l i ng it Philippine history.  Political Motivations The suggestion that an anti-Rizal group could be involved also surfaced, indicating a motive to tarnish the image of Rizal and undermine his significance in Philippine culture. Inside Job.  Inside Job Many investigators began considering the theory that the theft was an inside job, conducted by someone familiar with the Library’s operations. The absence of signs of forced entry led to this speculation, as it was possible that the culprits, having knowledge of the Library’s layout and security measures, could have planned the crime meticulously, possibly waiting for the right moment to act during the The Ri zal Ma Heist: I n uscript nvestig s Suspec at ion, ts, and Contro versies  Initial Investigation On December 8, 1961, the original manuscripts were reported missing from the National Library during the International Congress on Rizal. The initial police investigation identified that the manuscripts had been taken through an unlocked window, which raised suspicions of an inside job.  Initial Investigation The only significant clue left at the scene was a right rubber glove, found by investigators near the escape route. The glass case containing the manuscripts had been forced open, indicating deliberate entry.  Identifying Suspects As the investigation unfolded, several motives were proposed regarding the theft, ranging from an avid collector’s desire to acquire the manuscripts to the possibility of a prank intended to embarrass authorities. Among multiple theories, it was suggested that the thief could have had ties to the Rizal National Centennial Commission due to the specific knowledge required to target these manuscripts from a large collection.  Arrests and Aftermath By the end of February 1962, three main suspects were arrested in connection with the theft: 1. Nilo Cabrido A temporary employee of the Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission, Cabrido was implicated in the crime and later convicted. 2. Eleuterio Ayson An older employee from Novaliches who was also connected to the commission.  Arrests and Aftermath 3. Romeo Calopez A younger suspect who faced scrutiny after Cabrido accused him of involvement. Cabrido, in particular, played a critical role in the investigation as he later confessed to the crime. However, his confession was mired in controversy, as his lawyers claimed it was obtained under duress, raising questions about its validity in court.  Arrests and Aftermath Ultimately, only Cabrido was convicted and sentenced to a prison term of two to eight years.  Challenges in the Investigation The investigation faced various challenges, notably the lack of tangible evidence against Ayson and Calopez, leading to their release due to insufficient proof. Additionally, the investigation's credibility was further questioned when many fingerprints found at the crime scene belonged to library officials, suggesting that many involved had legitimate reasons for being present.  Challenges in the Investigation Public and media interest in the case surged due to its high-profile nature and the cultural significance of the stolen items. Despite the arrests, many aspects National Library F ili Noli and of the investigation remain unclear, including whether Cabrido acted alone or in concert with others. Public speculation continued about the motives behind the theft and the adequacy of the investigation.  Library National Fili Noli and Thank You R e fe r e nc e : O c t o b e r 2 0 u ). i A r t e en r e. o s / p h i 3 , I n q i n e 0 2 i l y i p p 9 2 8. (2 D a p h i l 81 7. R i n e m / / 2 o , A p p c o 0 2 0 p h i l i e r. 3 1 a a m. 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