PHLPost seeks court guidance on post office artifacts

The Philippine Postal Corp. has filed a complaint before a Manila Regional Trial Court seeking judicial clarification on the handling and custody of archaeological artifacts reportedly found by a private company within the grounds of the historic Manila Central Post Office complex.

PHLPost said the court action aims to determine whether proper legal procedures were followed in the excavation, reporting and turnover of the unearthed materials, which it said were discovered within the Manila Central Post Office, or MCPO, compound.

Under Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, archaeological discoveries in the Philippines are subject to documentation, regulation and coordination with the state’s cultural agencies, including the National Museum of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

PHLPost said those rules also govern the custody, preservation and eventual public access to materials recovered during excavations.

According to the affidavit cited in the complaint, archaeological excavation activities were reportedly conducted in portions of the MCPO compound in November 2023, when the building remained unoccupied following the fire that damaged the historic structure.

The reported activities were carried out by a group of archaeologists and researchers in coordination with individuals involved, PHLPost said.

The reported excavations yielded materials believed to date from the 15th to the 20th century.

Those materials included biological remains, ceramic fragments, glass and metal objects, masonry materials, shells and other items that may help shed light on Manila’s historical past, according to PHLPost.

PHLPost said it was not formally informed of the reported discoveries at the time.

The corporation added that the materials have not yet been officially turned over to PHLPost or deposited with the appropriate cultural institutions.

In its complaint, PHLPost asked the court to determine whether procedures under Republic Act No. 10066 were followed, particularly the provisions governing archaeological excavations and the required reporting and turnover of unearthed materials.

The filing also reflects the sensitivity of any excavation inside the Manila Central Post Office complex, one of Manila’s best-known heritage structures.

The building was completed in 1926, designed by Filipino architects Juan Arellano and Tomas Mapua, damaged during World War II and restored in 1946 before suffering another major fire in May 2023.

PHLPost has since said it is committed to the recovery and rehabilitation of the iconic building, which remains part of the country’s institutional and cultural landscape.

Against that backdrop, PHLPost said it remains committed to working closely with cultural agencies, academic institutions and other stakeholders to safeguard and promote the historical and cultural heritage associated with the Manila Central Post Office.

The corporation said the court filing is intended to help ensure that any artifacts found within the MCPO complex are properly documented, preserved and eventually made accessible to the public.