Presidential candidate Leody de Guzman says, if elected president, he would end agreements with the US and China and deal instead with neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
MANILA, Philippines — Labor leader Leody de Guzman, who is a presidential candidate, wants the Philippines to align with countries that value unity and sovereignty.
If elected president, he would seek the non-alignment of the Philippines with capitalist countries, De Guzman said on Tuesday in the presidential debate sponsored by the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
“For me, it should be avoided, this uniting with big countries of the world where the relationship is such that we will become pawns in their battles,” he said in Filipino. “What I really have in mind is to make our country non-aligned with big capitalist countries of the world.”
For one thing, De Guzman said planned to end the military agreement with the United States and the relationship with China wherein the Philippines is the underdog.
The Philippines, he said, should instead align with its Southeast Asian neighbors.
“Let’s deal only with those countries that will respect our rights, our sovereignty, our territorial integrity, and our rules,” he said.
“Let’s align ourselves with nations that push for unity and peace and that focus more on the economic side of unity and cooperation,” he added. .“And let’s not side with America or China, especially on the issue of the West Philippine Sea, which is the hottest issue of discussion now. We will only be used as a pawn by either one.”
De Guzman is running under the Partido Lakas ng Masa with activist Walden Bello as his running mate.
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