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MANILA, Philippines – The historic visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris in the Philippines was met with a protest led by various progressive groups.
Activists said the US’ second highest official is “not welcome” in the country.
Harris, meanwhile, will meet with select activists and human rights groups on Monday, November 21, to discuss the human rights situation and democracy in the Philippines. The US embassy in Manila has yet to provide details on the said event.
Groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) led the march in Morayta, Manila on Monday morning. However, they were blocked by members of the Philippine National Police from leaving the area.
The progressive groups then tried to get past a police barricade by heading towards the opposite road, but were blocked. The groups continued to look for other ways to break through the barricade, but police chased after them.
They later settled and held the program along Recto avenue. The placards of the various groups called for the withdrawal of the US military presence in the Philippines, as well as of military aid in the country.
Activist groups also put up a mural painting showing Harris carrying bombs and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The painting also has a text that says, “Harris Imperialist.”
Harris arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, marking her first in visit in the country as US vice president. The visit is part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to strengthen US ties with nations in the Indo-Pacific Region and aims to deepen economic and security ties between the Philippines and the US.
‘Harmful visit’
Raymond Palatino, member of BAYAN and a former Kabataan lawmaker, was among those who led the protest. He said Harris’ visit was harmful because it will boost US military aid on the Philippines.
“Na ang pagpunta ni Kamala Harris sa Pilipinas ay magdadala ng panganib sa bayan. Dahil ang kanyang agenda rito, hindi kapayapaan, hindi kaunlaran para sa Pilipinas kundi dagdag na base militar ng mga ‘Kano; dagdag na ayuda para sa militar, mga pondo na gagamitin sa mga korapsyon, pondo na gagamitin bilang kagamitang pandigma laban sa mamamayang Pilipino,” Palatino said.
(Kamala Harris’ visit to the Philippines will bring harm to the country. Because her agenda here is not for peace, not for the Philippines’ development, but for additional military bases of the US; additional aid for the military, funds that will be used for corruption, funds for war equipment that will be used against Filipinos.)
Former Gabriela lawmaker Liza Maza, who was also present in the protest, said Harris’ visit intends to use the Philippines for the US’ conflict with China.
“At alam naman natin na napakatindi ang away niyan (US) ngayon sa Tsina at kaya niya ginagawa ito ay dahil nga para i-contend ang China. Kaya tayo ay isinusuong sa giyera ng Estados Unidos laban sa Tsina. Gano’n ang projection nila. Kaya tayo, bilang mga peace-loving people dapat lang na tutulan natin ang agendang ito ng US,” former Gabriela lawmaker Liza Maza said.
(And we know that US has a big conflict with China that’s why Harris visited the Philippines to contend with China. The United States makes the Philippines enter conflict against China. That’s their projection. That’s why we, being peace-loving people, should reject this US agenda.)
For years, various progressive groups have been calling for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which binds the Philippines’ military ties with the US.
Part of the usual assistance from the US is anti-terrorism equipment. The national police also receives equipment used for its crisis response team from the US. From 2016 to 2019, the US was able to lend the Philippines $267 million worth of foreign military financing for acquisition of defense assets.
The Philippines is also the largest recipient of military aid from the US in the entire Indo-Pacific region. According to the US embassy, the country received P48.6 billion worth of military assistance from the US since 2015. – Rappler.com
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