Three documents, previously missing and identified as part of the Philippine Insurgent Records (PIR), were discovered on eBay with a price tag close to P44,000, said National Library of the Philippines Director Cesar Gilbert Adriano.
These documents are crucial components of Philippine history as the PIR is an extensive collection of records concerning the revolutionary period.
The National Library immediately coordinated efforts with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to halt the auction and retrieve the documents.
These documents are believed to belong to a series important to understanding the actions and strategies of Filipino insurgents during the fight against colonial rule.
The National Library and the National Historical Commission said an investigation is underway to determine if there were any breaches in the library’s security or archival processes that might have led to the documents’ disappearance.
The seller, whose details remain undisclosed, was contacted promptly. Cooperation from the seller is being reported as they complied with the request to pull down the listing for sale. There is no clear information yet regarding how the seller came into possession of the documents.
The Philippine government is expected to take steps to enhance the security and management of historical documents. This includes revisiting and possibly revising existing protocols regarding the storage and handling of valuable historical records.