Militants: Filipinos will not benefit from Obama visit
Protesters burn a mock U.S. flag to protest the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama Sunday, April 27, 2014 at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Obama is to arrive Monday on the last leg of his four nation Asian visit with both Philippine and U.S. governments rushing to finalize, for possible signing, the so-called Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation (AEDC) which will allow larger US military presence in the country. AP
MANILA, Philippines—Militant groups on Monday have gathered in different parts of Metro Manila in time for the arrival of US President Barack Obama, insisting that Filipinos have nothing to gain from his two-day state visit.
“The visit will be a reaffirmation of more than a century of colonial and neo-colonial relations. The Filipino people do not stand to benefit from the presence of more US troops and more economic liberalization. Today we protest to tell the imperialist chieftain that we reject his agenda for Asia and we reject being a neo-colony,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr. in a statement.
They also derided the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which was inked by Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador Philip Goldberg a few hours before Obama’s arrival.
Bayan tagged the signing of the EDCA as a “brazen display of treachery” patronized by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
”We stand for regional peace and stability. We oppose any kind of foreign intervention and violation of our sovereignty, whether it’s by US troops and bases, or by China’s incursions and illegal occupation of our islets and shoals. We aspire for a Philippines that is truly independent,” Reyes added.
But the Palace earlier on Monday expressed its support to the defense pact, which provides that US troops join the Philippines for merged military training exercises.
From Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, anti-Obama protesters are scheduled to march up to the historic Mendiola bridge near Malacañang Palace to hold a program.
”Protesters will burn a giant effigy of Aquino and Obama in the form of a dog pulling a chariot which signifies the US pivot to Asia,” Reyes said.
The militants will also tear a large American flag “with skulls and crossbones” to signify their protest against the military agreement.
Meanwhile, Personnel of the Manila Police District (MPD) and augmentation forces from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) have secured the set up barricades in front of the so-called Mendiola Peace Arch.
City police and Civil Disturbance Management men have also laid their shields in front of the peace arch as preparation.
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