Diocese of Borongan objects transfer of one Balangiga bell to National Museum

The Bells of Balangiga (Photo by Washington D.C. PE via Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines/Facebook)

The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of Borongan on Thursday, December 13, said it opposes a proposal that urges the government to place one of the Balangiga Bells in the National Museum.

“We, the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of Borongan collectively object to and strongly stand against the transfer of one or all of the Bells of Balangiga from their historical and rightful habitat, which is the Parish Church of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, Diocese of Borongan,” the Diocese of Borongan said.

The Catholic Church said this after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, on December 6, introduced Senate Resolution No. 965, asking the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to “share” with Filipinos the historic relics by transferring one of the bells to the National Museum.

However, the Diocese of Borongan called such move as “disrespectful mangling of history and the right of the Catholic faithful of Balangiga to their private property.”

“The Balangiga Encounter at which the bells played a role happened in Balangiga. It is only right that they be returned to Balangiga and stay in Balangiga,” it stressed.

“The Balangiga Bells are sacramentals, that is, they are also sacred artifacts that call the faithful to prayer and worship,” it continued.

The Church also added that the resolution “does violence to history and the sacred character and purpose of the Balangiga Bells.”

On Tuesday, the three bells were finally brought back to its home country after 117 years.

The Balangiga Bells were taken by the United States (US) army as war trophies, following the Balangiga massacre in 1901 during the Philippine-American War.

[READ: Balangiga Bells return in PH]

Malacañang has announced that the President will attend  the handover ceremony of the Balangiga Bells in Eastern Samar on December 15, Saturday, due to the people of Eastern Samar’s “persistent requests.”