(Eagle News) — For Senator Koko Pimentel, the return of the Balangiga bells is “timely and significant” and “can only lead to the further mending and strengthening of relations between traditional allies.”
“As a long-time advocate on the matter of the bells’ safe and complete return to Philippine soil, I cannot overemphasize the significance of this event, especially at this time and considering our continually evolving relationship with the US these last two years. This signifies a closure and a new beginning between our two countries,” Pimentel, who, more than seven years ago, filed Senate Resolution No. 610 that sought the return of the bells and other war artifacts taken by US troops, said.
Pimentel’s father, former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, authored a similar Senate resolution in 2002.
Pimentel thanked the US, and expressed appreciation for the “veterans groups, historians, local and US academics and every Filipino who relentlessly campaigned to take back what is rightfully ours,” including the government.
It was President Rodrigo Duterte who called for the return of the Balangiga bells in his second State of the Nation address in 2017.
“This is a long-overdue victory for the Filipino people. Unlike in actual war, however, everyone benefits. There are no winners and losers here. This has been a long time coming..,” he said.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis officially turned over the bells in a ceremony in Wyoming, where two of the three bells taken by the US troops from Eastern Samar as war booty are housed.
The other bell is in a US military facility in South Korea.
