House approves resolution urging US to return Balangiga bells

September 27, 2017

The House of Representatives on Tuesday night has adopted a resolution urging the United States government to return the three Balangiga church bells taken by the US Army from the town church of Balangiga, Eastern Samar during the Philippine-American War as a sort of war trophy in 1901.

House Resolution No. 1337 principally filed by Eastern Samar  Rep. Ben Evardone was unanimously approved .

It was adopted three weeks after US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim said there are efforts between Washington and Manila to discuss and facilitate the return of the famous bells.

The bells are kept by the US government in the 9th Infantry Regiment at their base in Camp Red Cloud, South Korea, while two are on a former base of the 11th Infantry Regiment at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. DMS