Philippine President demands US return three bells.

Rodrigo Duterte called on the United States to return three bells that were taken from a Philippine village by US soldiers more than a century ago.

The two bells are currently on display at FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Photo: AP

"Give us back the bells.""That Balangiga," AP quoted Duterte as saying yesterday before the House of Representatives, in an event attended by the US ambassador and other diplomats. "They are part of our national heritage... give them back to us, this is causing us pain."

"We recognize that the Balangiga bells hold deep meaning for many people, both in the United States and in the Philippines. We will continue to work with our Philippine partners to find a solution," Molly Koscina, spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy, ​​said today.

The American soldiers took three bells from the village.Balangiga, eastern Philippines, 1901, as war trophies. Filipinos regard these bells as symbols of their long struggle for independence.

The bells served as a signal to warn Filipinos to attack American soldiers in the town on September 28, 1901. The attack, which occurred early that morning, killed at least 48 American soldiers. The American troops occupied the village after gaining control of the Philippines, a result of the Spanish-American War.

The two bells are now on display at the air base.FE Warren in the cityCheyenne, stateWyoming. They are part of a memorial to American soldiers who died in the 1901 Filipino invasion. The third one is held by the U.S. Army in Korea.

Discussions about the return of the bell have been a persistent topic in U.S.-Philippines relations.

According to VNE