US to resolve Balangiga bells issue with Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - The United States vowed yesterday to resolve the issue of the Balangiga bells after President Duterte, in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, demanded that the US government return them.

“We are aware that the Bells of Balangiga have deep significance for a number of people, both in the United States and in the Philippines. We will continue to work with our Filipino partners to find a resolution,” US embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina said in a statement.

The bells were taken by American troops in 1901 as spoils of war. In his speech, Duterte mentioned the massacre in Balangiga, Samar wherein 48 American soldiers were killed by Filipino guerillas.  

He noted the American officials retaliated by ordering the killing of all Filipino males who could bear arms.

US troops were also instructed to make the interior of Samar a “howling wilderness.” The Americans, Duterte said, seized three church bells as war booty.  

“Give us back those Balangiga bells,” Duterte said, adding: “They are ours. They belong to the Philippines. They are part of our national heritage... Isa-uli naman ninyo. Masakit ‘yan sa amin (Please return the bells. That was painful for us).”

Duterte made the appeal in the presence of US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, who was at the House of Representatives plenary hall for the SONA. Kim was seen removing his headphone while the President was talking about the issue.

“Those bells are reminders of the gallantry and heroism of our forebears who resisted the American colonizers and sacrificed their lives in the process. Krag against bolo. Krag was the standard rifle issued to the American troops,” Duterte said. 

While the US has sent troops to help resolve the Marawi City crisis and continued military exercises with Filipino troops, the relationship between the current administration and Washington has not been smooth since then American president Barack Obama called out Duterte for supposedly encouraging the summary executions of drug offenders.

Duterte responded by accusing the US of interfering with the Philippines’ internal affairs. Obama’s successor Donald Trump has invited Duterte to the White House but the Philippine leader said he would not visit the US within his term. 

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone filed a resolution in the House of Representatives seeking to recover the Balangiga bells from the US.

Keep longtime friends

As this developed, the Makati Business Club (MBC) reiterated its reminder to the government about maintaining its good partnership with existing strategic allies amid its move toward an independent foreign policy.

“In his SONA, President Duterte again delved into the Philippines’ relationships with other countries. As we steer towards a more independent foreign policy, we hope that new friends are made as we keep old and long standing friends,” MBC chairman Edgar Chua said.

The MBC issued a statement in October last year welcoming the administration’s push to revitalize the country’s relationship with China.

The group emphasized, however, that this should be in tandem with continuing efforts to nurture partnership with existing strategic allies and friends such as the US.

Not just Balangiga

In Butuan City, relatives of the woman who discovered the Golden Tara also want the relic returned to the Philippines.

The 13th century relic – considered one of the most important archeological discoveries in the Philippines – is now at the Field Museum in Chicago and referred to as the “Golden Image of Agusan.”

Relatives of Belay Campos, the Manobo woman who discovered the four-pound, eight-inch, 21-carat Golden Tara, has called for the return of the relic to the country.

Constancia Guiral and Danilo Isid, great grandchildren of Campos, said they would like the relic back in the Philippines. If not in Agusan del Sur where it was originally found due to security concerns, they said the relic could be brought to the National Museum in Manila “so the Filipino people can see it.”

Isid and Guiral said their family is also asking for a “finder’s fee.”

“Because all of them were unschooled, they did not know what to do. All they did was just remember that once the Golden Tara belonged to them,” Guiral said.

Praises for policies

The MBC, together with some other business groups, however, lauded various points made by Duterte during his two-hour long speech.

“The MBC has always supported policy and regulatory reforms which we feel would drive the economy and sustain its growth in the long run, and we are encouraged that the President remains committed to pursuing his socio-economic agenda,” Chua said.

In particular, Chua said the group welcomed Duterte’s leadership in advocating for a fair and more equitable tax policy, his commitment to invest more in education and in addressing the country’s infrastructure deficit.

“It is also important to highlight one of the President’s calls to reconsider TRO (temporary restraining order) releases as these often delay the implementation of critical infrastructure and social programs of the government. We also recognize the impassioned call for real progress on climate change,” Chua said. – With Richmond Mercurio, Ben Serrano, Delon Porcalla