MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will not be able to attend the turnover of the historic Balangiga Bells in Eastern Samar, Malacañang said Wednesday night. “President Rodrigo Roa Duterte would not be able to attend the turnover of the Balangiga bells to officials in Eastern Samar, which is scheduled on Saturday, December 15,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENTPanelo said the President would instead attend to some “pressing matters of governance that require his utmost and immediate attention” on that date. On Tuesday, the President also missed the tunrover of the bells at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. The Balangiga bells returned to the Philippines 117 years after it was taken by the United States as war booty.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 12, 2018 15:00 UTC