MALACANANG welcomed Sunday United States Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim’s remarks on trying “to reach an early resolution on the Balangiga bells.”

"The Balangiga bells, as the President (Rodrigo Duterte) mentioned, are an important part of our national heritage," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

The Philippine government will continue to work with the US to pave the way for the rightful return of the Balangiga Bells to the country, he said.

"The government is also committed to continue to lay the path towards the restoration of our dignity as a nation," Abella added.

Duterte, during his second State of the Nation Address recently, called on the US to return the Balangiga bells, which the Americans took from Samar during the war in 1901. (SDR/SunStar Philippines)