In photos: Victory for PHL: President Duterte raises a clenched fist as he rings one of the three Balangiga bells
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte raises a clenched fist as he rings one of the three Balangiga church bells during a ceremony in Balangiga in Eastern Samar province on December 15, 2018. – The sleepy central Philippine town of Balangiga erupted in joy on December 15 as bells looted from its church more than a century ago by vengeful US troops were turned over to the community, and rang once again on their home soil. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)President Rodrigo Duterte kisses one of the Balangiga Bells after witnessing the official handover of its Transfer Certificate at the Balangiga Auditorium in Eastern Samar on December 15, 2018. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOPresident Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech after witnessing the official handover of the Transfer Certificate of the Balangiga Bells at the Balangiga Auditorium in Eastern Samar on December 15, 2018. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (R) raises a clenched fist as he rings one of the three Balangiga church bells during a ceremony in Balangiga in Eastern Samar province on December 15, 2018, as Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (L) looks on. – The sleepy central Philippine town of Balangiga erupted in joy on December 15 as bells looted from its church more than a century ago by vengeful US troops were turned over to the community, and rang once again on their home soil. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (C) watches as Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (2nd R) receives a certificate of transfer for three Balangiga church bells from the US embassy in Manila’s deputy chief of mission, John Law (2nd L), during a ceremony in Balangiga in Eastern Samar province on December 15, 2018, as US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Joseph Felter (L) and Philippine Foreign Affairs Spokesman Ernesto Abella (R) look on. – The sleepy central Philippine town of Balangiga erupted in joy on December 15 as bells looted from its church more than a century ago by vengeful US troops were turned over to the community, and rang once again on their home soil. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)
Workers place US and Philippine flags next to statues depicting the attack of Filipino rebels on US soldiers during the Philippine-American war in 1901, on display at the town’s plaza in Balangiga, in Eastern Samar province, on December 14, 2018, a day before a ceremony to return three bronze church bells taken by US troops at the time. – The church bells seized from the Philippines by the US as war trophies over a century ago were returned to the Philippines on December 11, in a bid to turn the page on a difficult chapter between the historical allies. The bells, which arrived in Manila, will be brought to Balangiga on December 15. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)