House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro speaks at the 124th Commemoration of the Philippine-American War, in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Saturday, February 4, 2023. (Photo from ACT)
MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list decried the revival of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) on the 124th anniversary of the beginning of the war between the Philippines and the United States (US), saying that it was like the colonizers never left.
According to the ACT, it was on February 4, 1899 that American soldiers fired upon Filipinos doing patrol duties in Manila. The group said that heroes who fought to expel American armed forces would be enraged by the presence of US forces in the Philippines.
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“Tila hindi umalis ang mananakop. Maaaring mapamura sa galit si Heneral Luna, at umalab muli ang gerilyang diwa ng Tinio Brigade at ng mga bayaning Lumad kung malaman nilang nagbalik sa kanilang mga probinsya ang noo’y kanilang pinalayas,” said ACT representative and House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. France Castro.
(It is like the colonizers did not leave. General Luna might have sworn in anger, or the guerilla spirit of Tinio Brigade and Lumad heroes would flare if they find out that those they expelled returned to their provinces).
During the 124th Commemoration of the Philippine-American War in Sta. Mesa, Manila, Castro insisted that Filipinos should not give up sovereignty in the promise of mutual defense.
“Wakasan na natin ang kanilang panghihimasok sa ating sariling bayan at huwag na tayong magpagamit bilang mga tauhan sa kanilang mga digmaan,” said the representative.
(Let us end their entry into our country and let us not be used as personnel in their war).