BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said the Philippines is giving the United States government enough time to return the Balangiga bells taken by American soldiers 116 years ago.
“They are looking for ways how to get out of this problem because it remains to be not only a source of irritation, but also a source of painful reaction of what really happened to our countrymen,” Duterte said during the 116th commemoration of the Balangiga Encounter.
Speaking before thousands of local officials and townsfolk at a covered court in this town late afternoon, Duterte said the process is “not that easy.”
“Those things will only be returned with the permission of US Congress and if the President will approve it. We give them enough time. The Americans say that they are processing it. I hope that the US Congress will give President Trump the authority to return the bells,” he said.
He assured that there is an ongoing negotiation and the US government is trying to figure out how to return the bells.
“To them, it is like a war trophy, but if you will look at it, it cost a lot of innocent lives. Just return it and we will be happy. We’re not angry at you,” the President said.
The President, however, acknowledged that the US has been making efforts to repay the damages brought by US occupation in the country.
“I’d rather be friendly to Americans now because the Americans redeemed themselves a lot... They helped us a lot. They were engaged here during the Japanese occupation. I would not say that they are saviors, but they are our allies,” he added.
“Even today, the Americans provided crucial equipment to our soldiers fighting terrorists in Marawi.”
The Chief Executive admitted that he turned emotional when he demanded for the return of the bells during his State of the Nation Address on July 24.
“I was under advise by DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to temper my language and avoid cursing, which I am prone to do if I get emotional,” he said.
This advice prompted him to be friendlier to the US, he said.
Aside from recalling the heroism of Filipinos in Balangiga, the President also reiterated his administration’s staunch war against illegal drugs in his one-hour speech that concluded at 5:30 p.m.
The President arrived in town past 4:00 p.m. and left around 5:45 p.m.
More than 150 residents, mostly schoolchildren, prepared an hour-long reenactment, but the President left before the presentation started.
Before he ended his speech, Duterte vowed to confer the Order of Lapu-Lapu to the family of local warriors who fought the Americans.
The Order of Lapu-Lapu, created through Executive Order No. 17, is to be awarded to officials, government personnel, and private citizens "in recognition of invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President."
The Balangiga Encounter happened on Sept. 28, 1901, when town residents led by Valeriano Abanador initiated an attack against US soldiers while having breakfast.
Around 2,500 Filipinos were killed by the US retaliatory attack. The Americans took the Balangiga bells as war trophies.
Until now, the three bells are still in the custody of the US government. Two of the bells are at the FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, while one is located in the 9th US Infantry Regiment in Camp Red Cloud in South Korea.
Previous attempts made by the past presidents and even by the Catholic Church to return the Balangiga Bells to the country were all unsuccessful. (with reports from Pearl Marie Ecaldre, OJT/PNA)
