TACLOBAN CITY, July 25 -- Local officials lauded
President Rodrigo Duterte for bravely asking the US government to return the
three Balangiga Bells taken by American soldiers as war booty in 1901.
President Duterte, in his second State of the
Nation Address (SONA Monday afternoon, reiterated that the national heritage is
owned by Filipinos.
Balangiga, Eastern Samar Mayor Randy Graza thanked
the Chief Executive for bringing up the century-old issue during his more than
two-hour speech.
“The President not only brought the Balangiga Bells
issue to the national and international arena, but also for being with us in
passionately believing that those bells should be returned as they rightfully
belong not only to our town, but to the Filipino nation as well,” Graza told
PNA in a mobile phone interview.
Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa
Tiopes said they are truly happy that no less than the President has called on
for the return of the bells.
“These bells are not just ordinary relics of our
past. These are a symbol of the bravery of our ancestors. It serves as a
reminder to all Filipinos of how we can unite as one and fight oppression and
aggressors,” Tiopes said.
Tiopes recalled that there had been moved in the
past from the Philippine government, urging US to return Balangiga Bells, “but
these all fallen on deaf ears resulting for the moves to have a negative
results.”
“With the President himself making this call, we
have high hopes of seeing these bells returned to their rightful home in
Balangiga.”
Balangiga Tourism Officer Fe Campanero said that
they are both happy to finally hear a President of the country strongly
demanding the US government return a rightful property of the Philippines.
“I am so glad that no less than the President
shares our feelings to have the bells back. We will not waver until this
becomes reality,” Campanero said.
Yolly Amano, the grandniece of Valeriano Abanador,
the leader of Balangiga Encounter, is very optimistic that the President’s call
will have a positive result.
“I don’t agree with US claiming the bells are war
trophies because they were stolen by American soldiers when Filipino fighters
fled to the mountains,” Amano said.
“I am very hopeful, in fact I composed a hymn in
local language, where in the finale, expressing fervent hope that the day will
come when those bells will finally ring with resounding joy in our belfry which
we the people of Balangiga are looking forward for that day,” she added.
Balangiga Encounter happened on Sept. 28, 1901,
when residents of the town led by Abanador initiated an attack to US soldiers
while having breakfast.
Of the 74 members of Company C, only 26 survived
the attack. It resulted to the reprisal from the US troops, leading for Gen.
Jacob Smith to order to turn Samar into “howling wilderness” and shot any
Filipino male from 10 years old above able to bear firearms.
The first attempt for the bells return was during
the term of former president Fidel V. Ramos, but US was adamant that the bells
are their property and it would take an Act of Congress for them to return it
to the Philippines.
Senators from the Philippines also supported the
move to return the three bells. During the term of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, former senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. authored Senate
Resolution No 393, while in 2007, former senator Manny Villar also endorsed a
resolution for the same concern.
The Roman Catholic Church also made an attempt when
former Borongan bishop Leonardo Medroso and Balangiga parish priest Saturnino
Obzunar wrote an open letter addressed to President George W. Bush, the US
Congress and to the Helsinki Commission.
Until now, the three bells are still in the custody
of the US government. Two of the bells are at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in
Cheyenne, Wyoming, while one is located in 9th U.S. Infantry Regiment in Camp
Red Cloud, South Korea. (Roel T. Amazona with reports from Vicky C. Arnaiz/PNA)
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