US Congress to approve Balangiga Bells return - Binay

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay expressed confidence yesterday that the US Congress will approve the return of Balangiga Bells to the Philippines.

Binay said there is a pending resolution in US Congress seeking the return to the country of the bells.

“Through the years there have been dialogues between independent bodies; and the governments of the two nations, in hopes of arriving at an equitable solution to the issue,” Binay said in a letter to US Ambassador Harry Thomas sent last Oct. 5.

Binay said the return of the bells had only been delayed by the opposition of former Wyoming governor David Freudenthal and an amendment to the US National Defense Authorization Act that bars “the return of veterans’ memorial objects to foreign nations without specific authorization in law.” 

“Since both parties, it would seem, have reached a consensus to return the bells to our country… I am optimistic that the United States Congress shall soon decide the matter in our favor,” Binay said.

Binay also urged all concerned parties to ensure the return of the bells.

“Since the Filipino populace, the Wyoming Veterans Council, and the Catholic Church are considered as the major stakeholders in this issue, it would be safe to assume that the people’s voice calls for the return of the Bells to the Philippines,” Binay said.

The Balangiga Bells were taken by US forces as a war trophy in the aftermath of the Balangiga massacre in Samar during the Philippine-American War.

Efforts to return the Balangiga Bells to the Philippines have started in 1957 when Jesuit historian Father Horacio de la Costa requested the 13th Air Force in San Francisco, California to repatriate the bells.

The Balangiga Historical Society through the National Historical Institute and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) initiated formal government efforts in reacquiring the Balangiga Bells in 1989.