IV 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 268

Urging the President to authorize the transfer of ownership of one of the 

bells taken from the town of Balangiga on the island of Samar, Philippines, which are currently displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, 

to the people of the Philippines. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 10, 2003

Mr. FILNER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION

Urging the President to authorize the transfer of ownership 

of one of the bells taken from the town of Balangiga 

on the island of Samar, Philippines, which are currently 

displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, to the people 

of the Philippines.

Whereas the United States of America and the citizens of the 

Republic of the Philippines have shared historic and political ties for over 100 years; 

Whereas the acquisition of the Philippines in 1898 ushered 

in unprecedented American influence in the affairs of the 

Asia-Pacific region; 
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•HRES 268 IH 

Whereas, at the onset of the acquisition of the Philippines, 

armed conflict occurred between the Americans and the 

Filipinos; 

Whereas during the course of that conflict, a particularly 

noteworthy incident occurred on the island of Samar in 

1901; 

Whereas that incident involved the ringing of the church bells 

of the town of Balangiga on the island of Samar to signal 

the outbreak of fighting; 

Whereas units of the United States Armed Forces confiscated 

the bells of Balangiga and brought them to the United 

States as war trophies; 

Whereas these units were stationed at Fort D.A. Russell in 

Cheyenne, Wyoming, which subsequently became the current F.E. Warren Air Force Base, where the bells of 

Balangiga have since remained; 

Whereas the acts of conflict and cruelty that surrounded the 

bells of Balangiga are not consistent with the friendship 

and cooperation that have been an integral part of the 

relationship between the Republic of the Philippines and 

the United States of America; 

Whereas Filipino soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with 

American troops on the battlefields of World War II, 

Korea, and Vietnam; 

Whereas the bells of Balangiga should more properly serve as 

a symbol of friendship and cooperation and not of unfortunate misunderstanding and conflict; 

Whereas the Republic of the Philippines has repeatedly requested the return of the bells; 
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•HRES 268 IH 

Whereas a recent proposal provides a means for both countries to mutually share in the heritage that the bells of 

Balangiga represent, enabling both countries to retain an 

original and a duplicate bell; and 

Whereas the United States holds supportable legal title to the 

bells recognizable under international law and the United 

States Government has final disposition over the bells of 

Balangiga: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges 

2 the President to authorize the transfer of ownership of one 

3 of the bells taken from the town of Balangiga on the island 

4 of Samar, Philippines, which are currently displayed at 

5 F.E. Warren Air Force Base, to the people of the Phil6 ippines as a measure of friendship, good will, and coopera7 tion.

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