A bust of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal has gone missing from its pedestal at Place Jose Rizal in Paris, France, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Tuesday, November 4.
The monument, a popular site for the Filipino community in France, was believed to have been removed overnight between October 25 and 26, according to a statement from the DFA. The Philippine Embassy in Paris has reported the disappearance to local authorities and is closely monitoring the investigation.
‘The Embassy continues to coordinate with French officials and the Filipino community in Paris to pursue all avenues for the recovery or replacement of the monument,’ DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona told reporters.
Escalonda said the Philippine embassy decided to wait for initial information from the City of Paris – under whose jurisdiction the site falls – before releasing a public statement, to ‘ensure accuracy, prevent undue speculation, and respect the integrity of the investigative process.’
The DFA said it remains committed to preserving Rizal’s legacy and ‘the memory and values the monument represents’ as efforts continue to either locate or replace the missing bust.
The Rizal bust was put up there in June 2024 to commemorate the Filipino hero’s legacy and martyrdom. It is the “only public bust” of a Filipino icon in Paris, according to the DFA.