The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is working with police in France after a bust of national hero José Rizal vanished from a Paris park more than a week ago.
DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said the sculpture disappeared overnight on October 25 or 26 at Place José Rizal in the 9th district, an area linked to the Filipino hero’s stays in the French capital from 1883 to 1891. The monument, crafted by French sculptor Gérard Lartigue, was unveiled in 2022 as a tribute to Rizal and the long-standing ties between the Philippines and France.
“The matter has been promptly reported to local authorities in Paris, with whom the embassy is coordinating closely to monitor the progress of the investigation,” Escalona stated. She noted that the embassy first confirmed the incident with French officials before releasing the information publicly.
The reason behind the bust’s removal remains unclear, though Escalona warned that “public monuments are often vulnerable to vandalism or even destruction or theft.” She added that the embassy is working with both French authorities and the Filipino community “to pursue all avenues for recovery or replacement.”
The missing monument had served as a meaningful site for Filipinos in Paris. Rizal lived in France several times during his travels in Europe, studying ophthalmology, training under noted surgeon Dr. Louis de Wecker, and writing portions of “Noli Me Tangere” while staying in the city. Parts of “El Filibusterismo” were later completed in nearby Biarritz.
The bust stood at a park junction near rue de Maubeuge, rue Choron, and rue Rodier, marking the historic presence of the Philippine national hero in the French capital.
