Diocese of Borongan opposes proposal to transfer one of Balangiga bells to National Museum

The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of Borongan, Samar has expressed opposition on the proposal to transfer one of the three Balangiga bells to 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," the Diocese of Borongan said in a statement posted on the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

The Diocese of Borongan deemed any effort to transfer the bell/s as a "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 added.

Filed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Resolution No. 965 urges the government to share with Filipinos one of the Balangiga bells by placing it at the National Museum "for the appreciation and education of the public especially the youth."

But according to the Diocese of Borongan, the said resolution "does violence to history and the sacred character and purpose of the Balangiga bells."

The Balangiga bells finally returned to the Philippines on Tuesday after more than a century.  

They were taken by American soldiers in 1901 as a war trophy.

The Palace has announced that President Rodrigo Duterte would attend the scheduled turnover ceremony of the bells on December 15. — RSJ, GMA News