Palace welcomes US aid for Marawi rehab, commitment to return Balangiga bells

September 6, 2017

Malacanang welcomed on Wednesday the United States' pledge to assist in the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City and plan to return the Balangiga bells. "We look forward to the end of the rebellion and eventually, the chance to bravely face the challenges and opportunities of reconstruction together with our friends and allies here and abroad," said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a statement. US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim has said Washington will extend P730 million grant to Marawi rehabilitation. "We welcome the assistance of the United States to finance emergency relief and recovery efforts for the areas affected by the Marawi rebellion. The devastation wrought by the   Mautes, inspired by the perverse Daesh doctrine, is extensive," he said. "Hence, the recovery and rebuilding of Marawi cannot be done overnight. It is a multi-year rehabilitation effort which requires the full support and cooperation of everyone to help the city rise as a prosperous city again, as promised by the President (Rodrigo Duterte)," Abella added. The Islamic State-inspired terrorists have started occupying Marawi on May 23, prompting Duterte to declare martial law in the whole of Mindanao. Abella said Kim's recent statement to return the Balangiga bells to the Philippines was a "welcome gesture. "The Philippines has been working for the rightful return of Balangiga bells to the country for many years. The statement of US Ambassador Sung Kim that 'the return on the Balangiga bells is the right thing to do' therefore is a welcome gesture," he said. The Palace official noted that the Balangiga bells form part of national heritage and the return of these historical relics is "important for our national pride, as these bells are reminders of the gallantry and heroism of our forebears." During his second State of the Nation Address in July, Duterte called US for the return of the Balangiga bells from the US. Celerina Monte/DMS