THE United States government is holding talks with the Philippines for the immediate return of three Balangiga bells—war booty taken by the American soldiers from Eastern Samar in 1901, Washington’s envoy to Manila said on Tuesday.
In a round table discussion with selected journalists, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said that although it was very difficult to predict the exact date, he gave assurances that the American government was “deeply committed” to returning the bells in the “not-so-distant future.”
“There is an ongoing effort, ongoing discussion within the US government and with the Philippine government to try to facilitate the return of these bells as quickly as possible,” Kim said.
“I believe it’s the right thing to do and I really do hope that we’ll be able to return the bells soon,” he added.
The issue on Balangiga bells came into light when President Rodrigo Duterte again criticized the American govenrment in his two-hour long 2nd State of the Nation Address, in front of 1,500 dignitaries, diplomats, and guests, where Kim was also present.
“Give us back those Balangiga bells. They are ours,” Duterte demanded.
“They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage…” he added.
The Balangiga bells are three church bells taken by the US Army from the town church of Balangiga in Eastern Samar as war trophies after reprisals following the Balangiga massacre in 1901 during the Philippine-American War.
Kim said he was hopeful that Washington could soon return the three church bells, adding there were some issues that needed to be resolved to facilitate the bells’ return.
“I believe it’s the right thing to do and I really do hope that we’ll be able to return the bells soon,” Kim said.
“We know that these bells are emotionally and historically important matter for the Filipino people. We want to return them,” he assured.
Kim said he was not aware yet when the bells could be returned or whether all three bells would be returned at once.
The American envoy also admitted the return of the Balangiga bells was “not a very simple matter.”
He noted that as much as the bells were important to the Filipinos in Samar, it was also as important to the Americans who fought in that war more than 100 years ago.
“But it’s actually not a very simple matter. Just as the bells are emotionally important, historically important matter for the Filipino people I think they also hold a special meaning to those who fought – I mean – the veterans associations,” Kim said, replying to questions what were the obstacles being encountered in facilitating the return of the bells.
Currently, Kim said, the US government was working with Veterans associations back home to come up with the right solution to address the matter.
“We’ll have to work with them to try to come up with the right or the best solution for the return of the bells,” he said.
“But I’m cautiously optimistic that we will be able to see some progress in that not too distant future,” he added.
Pealing of the Church bell at that time was a signal for Filipino troops to attack the Americans in Balangiga town on September 28, 1901—during the Philipp0ine-American War. There were 48 members of the 9th US Infantry Regiment who were killed.
There are three Balangiga bells. Two are displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming while the other one is with US Army regiment in South Korea.
A veteran of the Vietnam War however said those bells were spoils of war where the troops who won would collect all the wealth.
“Those are spoils of war. Even in biblical times, the winners collected all the wealth, including kids and women to be their slaves and 10 percent was offered to the Lord,” a veteran, who refused to be named, said.