BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar: The Balangiga Bells tolled for the first time on Philippine soil in over a century, with President Rodrigo Duterte himself ringing and kissing one of them during a turnover ceremony that brought closure to a longstanding dispute between the Philippines and the United States.

Duterte, who arrived at the ceremony shortly before 5 p.m., received the bells’ transfer certificate from US Deputy Chief of Mission John Law, and handed it to Balangiga Mayor Randy Graza.

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