WATCH: Duterte rings historic church bell in Balangiga

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar—After 117 years merely on display abroad, one of the three Balangiga Bells finally tolled again in this quiet town.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday afternoon rang one of the three bronze bells for the first time since they arrived in the country last Dec. 11.

READ: LOOK: Balangiga Bells flown to Manila

Balangiga residents cheered as the President tolled the bell several times.

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American soldiers took the bells as war trophies after razing villagers in retaliation for a surprise attack in the Balangiga Encounter, which took place on Sept. 28, 1901.

In his speech during the turnover ceremony, the President, who called for the return of the historic bells in 2017, said the “homecoming of these artifacts is truly a milestone in the shared and meaningful history of the United States and the Philippines, and heralds a new and more vibrant chapter in our bilateral relations.”

“More than just a part of the Balangiga Church, these bells are a significant element in our country’s religious and historical narrative. They are an enduring symbol of our history and treasure,” he added. /atm