Duterte to push through with Balangiga bells turnover 52 SHARES Share it! Share TweetBy Argyll Cyrus GeducosPresident Duterte decided to push through with his visit to Balangiga, Eastern Samar, two hours after it was reported that the Chief Executive decided to skip the turnover of the historic Balangiga bells to its origin on Saturday. On Wednesday evening, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte had to attend to pressing matters that coincided with the scheduled turnover of the historic artifacts to local officials in Eastern Samar. “Due to the persistent requests from the people of Eastern Samar who look forward to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s personally bringing the Balangiga bells to the town of Balangiga, the President has decided to attend the turnover ceremony of the Balangiga bells to the local officials on Saturday, December 15,” he said. All three Balangiga bells made their way back to the Philippines on Tuesday, almost 17 months after Duterte publicly appealed to the US to return the bells during his second State of the Nation Address last year.

Source: Manila Bulletin December 13, 2018 00:56 UTC