Bust of Jose Rizal missing in Paris—DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the bust of Dr. Jose Rizal displayed in Paris, France, has gone missing.

The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Paris, said in a statement that Rizal's bust, located at Place Jose Rizal in Paris’ 9th arrondissement, went missing around Oct. 25 and Oct. 26.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Philippine Embassy in Paris, regrets the disappearance of Dr. Jose Rizal’s bust, a significant monument for the Filipino community in France, located at Place Jose Rizal in Paris’ 9th arrondissement," the DFA said on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

It added that the disappearance was immediately reported to the local authorities in Paris, and that the Embassy is working closely with them to monitor the investigation.

“The bust of Dr. José Rizal served as a cherished landmark for Filipinos in Paris and a symbol of enduring friendship between the Philippines and France. While the motive behind the removal remains unknown, public monuments are often vulnerable to vandalism or even destruction or theft,” the DFA said.

The bust and pedestal of Rizal, recognized as the Philippines' national hero, were unveiled on June 23, 2022. The historical marker is his only public bust in Paris.

Rizal stayed in France for three months after his arrival in the summer of 1883 before continuing his studies in Madrid, Spain. He returned in 1885 to train under renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Louis de Wecker for a year, and continued traveling to France until 1891 when he finished writing his second novel, El Filibusterismo, in Biarritz, France, per the DFA.

He was executed in 1896 in Bagumbayan, now called Luneta Park, for rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy against the Spanish colonial government.

“The Embassy continues to work closely with local authorities and the Filipino community in Paris to pursue all avenues for recovery or replacement, and remains committed to preserving the memory and values that the monument represents,” it added.