'At the end of the day, that is not owned by the United States or the Philippines. It's owned by the Catholic Church,' ex-DFA chief Roberto Romulo tells Rappler
"I personally believe that President Trump should, once and for all, return the Balangiga bells," former Philippine foreign secretary Roberto Romulo told Rappler on Wednesday,
"At the end of the day, that is not owned by the United States or the Philippines. It's owned by the Catholic Church," Romulo added.
Trump will visit the Philippines to join the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings, and to meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte earlier called on the US to return the Balangiga bells. In response, the US vowed to resolve the Balangiga bells issue, but without a specific timeframe in mind.
The Balangiga bells, once found in Balangiga Church in Eastern Samar, had been taken by the Americans as spoils of war. The tolling of these bells in 1901 had led to the massacre of American troops, in the US military's worst single defeat in the Philippines.
Trump will visit the Philippines to join the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings, and to meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte earlier called on the US to return the Balangiga bells. In response, the US vowed to resolve the Balangiga bells issue, but without a specific timeframe in mind.
The Balangiga bells, once found in Balangiga Church in Eastern Samar, had been taken by the Americans as spoils of war. The tolling of these bells in 1901 had led to the massacre of American troops, in the US military's worst single defeat in the Philippines.
Trump can make orders, Romulo says
Staunch opposition in the US has prevented the return of the Balangiga bells.
Staunch opposition in the US has prevented the return of the Balangiga bells.
Romulo, however, said that "as commander in chief of the US armed forces," Trump "can tell them, 'Return it,' despite the opposition."
Romulo served as secretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) from 1992 to 1995 under then president Fidel V. Ramos, who sought the return of the Balangiga bells, to no avail.
In his column for the Philippine Star on Wednesday, Romulo quoted a letter by his American friend Henry Howard to Trump on October 12, 2017, about the Balangiga bells.
Howard told Trump: "There is no political downside for you in Wyoming by returning the bells since you won so overwhelmingly there and there is tremendous upside for you as president of the United States in the Philippines by returning the bells before or during your trip to the Philippines in November."
"As the president of the United States and commander in chief of the US Army and US Air Force, you have the command and legal authority to permit the prompt return of the 3 bells," Howard said.
Romulo wrote: "If President Trump does indeed send the bells back, it would be an important step in Philippine-US relations and it would remove this long and deep wound between our two countries."
Romulo served as secretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) from 1992 to 1995 under then president Fidel V. Ramos, who sought the return of the Balangiga bells, to no avail.
In his column for the Philippine Star on Wednesday, Romulo quoted a letter by his American friend Henry Howard to Trump on October 12, 2017, about the Balangiga bells.
Howard told Trump: "There is no political downside for you in Wyoming by returning the bells since you won so overwhelmingly there and there is tremendous upside for you as president of the United States in the Philippines by returning the bells before or during your trip to the Philippines in November."
"As the president of the United States and commander in chief of the US Army and US Air Force, you have the command and legal authority to permit the prompt return of the 3 bells," Howard said.
Romulo wrote: "If President Trump does indeed send the bells back, it would be an important step in Philippine-US relations and it would remove this long and deep wound between our two countries."
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