Resolution Expressing the Sense of the Senate of the Philippines to Support the Appeal of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the Government of the United States of America for the Return of the Bells of Balangiga, That Were Taken as Trophies of War by American Military Troops in 1901

September 26, 2017

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 066-17

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES TO SUPPORT THE APPEAL OF PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE RETURN OF THE BELLS OF BALANGIGA, THAT WERE TAKEN AS TROPHIES OF WAR BY AMERICAN MILITARY TROOPS IN 1901

WHEREAS, on July 24, 2017, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte called upon the government of the United States of America to return the "Bells of Balangiga," referring to the three bells of the Balangiga Church in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, which were taken by American military troops in 1901 as trophies of war;

WHEREAS, the Bells of Balangiga, with Franciscan Order emblems dated 1863, 1889, and 1896, respectively, continue to remain in the possession of the United States government, two of which are displayed at the Trophy Park of the F. E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States of America, and the other one displayed at the 9th U.S. Infantry Regiment in Camp Red Cloud, Uijeongbu, South Korea;

WHEREAS, to our people, especially the people of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, the bells are not just ordinary relics but are symbols of the heroism, bravery, and commitment to freedom of our forebears who fiercely fought for independence and self-determination against the United States military forces during the Filipino-American War;

WHEREAS, as early as the 12th Congress of the Philippines, the Senate gave due importance to this issue through Adopted Senate Resolution No. 48, entitled "A Resolution Calling for the Return by the United States of America of the Bells of Balangiga, Samar and Other Artifacts and War Booties of the Filipino-American War Taken from the Province of Samar," authored by former Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.;

WHEREAS, in the 14th Congress, Senator Loren Legarda filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 155, entitled "A Resolution Expressing the Strong Sense of the Senate to Urge the Philippine Government to Exhaust All Efforts to Persuade the Government of the United States of America to, as an Act of Goodwill and Solidarity Between the People of these Two Nations, Immediately Return the Bells of Balangiga to the Province of Eastern Samar";

WHEREAS, in the 14th and 15th Congress, Senator Manny Villar filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 177, entitled "Resolution Expressing the Sense of the Senate for the Return to the Philippines of the Balangiga Bells which were Taken by the US Troops from the Town of Balangiga, Province of Samar in 1901" and Proposed Senate Resolution No. 528, entitled "Resolution Expressing the Sense of the Senate of the Philippines to Request from the Government of the United States of America, the Return of the Balangiga Bells as Token of Eternal Friendship and as a Testament to the Fraternal Relations of our Democratic States" respectively, reiterating the demand for the return of the Bells of Balangiga;

WHEREAS, as early as the 15th Congress, the author of this proposed resolution filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 610, entitled "A Resolution Reiterating the Call for the Return by the United States of America of the Bells of Balangiga, Samar and other Artifacts and War Booties of the Filipino-American War Taken from the Province of Samar";

WHEREAS, for 116 years since the Bells of Balangiga were taken and despite collective efforts by several Filipino-American associations, and various Filipino and American leaders and lawmakers to exhaust all legal and diplomatic means to urge the United States government to return the Bells of Balangiga to the Philippines, the bells have remained unreturned and under U.S. Government control;

WHEREAS, the return of the Bells of Balangiga taken from the Province of Samar will not only symbolize a closure of the wounds of the Filipino-American War but will also herald a new era of peace and friendship between the democratic governments of the Philippines and the United States of America: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, as it is hereby resolved by the Senate of the Philippines, To strongly support the appeal of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the Government of the United States of America for the return of the Bells of Balangiga, that were taken as trophies of war by American Military Troops in 1901. CAIHTE

Adopted,

(SGD.) AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL IIIPresident of the Senate

This Resolution was adopted by the Senate on September 26, 2017.

(SGD.) LUTGARDO B. BARBOSecretary of the Senate