Patriots on Bonifacio Day: ‘Junk the MLSA’

In two days (Nov. 29 and 30), thousands of protesters gathered in forums and took to the streets to denounce the signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement between the Philippines and the United States and mark the birth of Asia’s first anti-colonial revolutionary, Andres Bonifacio. They were joined by other protesters all over the country in calling for the junking of the MLSA which one described as another scar of the country’s “malignant tumor.”

By Bulatlat.com

An effigy of President Macapagal-Arroyo and her 'strong republic' is displayed at the Don Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola).  

Nov. 30 was a fitting day to commemorate the birth of Asia’s first anti-colonial revolutionary leader, Andres Bonifacio, who led the Philippine revolution against Spain in 1898. Thousands of Filipinos took to the streets in Metro Manila and major cities throughout the country to protest what they said was the latest scourge in the modern-day neo-colonial relationship between the Philippines and the United States: the secret signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA).  

Vice President Teofisto Guingona  raises his clenched fist to denounce the MLSA during the 'Assembly of Patriots.'

The day before, a gathering of patriots was held at the University of the Philippines’ Asian Center in Diliman, Quezon City where Vice President Teofisto Guingona led other speakers in denouncing the new pact. In his usual fiery speech, Guingona vowed never to turn his back from the fight against the MLSA, an agreement which he had opposed before he resigned as foreign secretary.  

On Bonifacio Day, thousands of workers, students, farmers and other protesters converged at Liwasang Bonifacio before marching to the Don China Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) for a round of speeches and cultural program. Joel Maglungsod, Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary for federation affairs, likened the Filipino hero and Katipunan’s battle against traitors of the 1898 Revolution such as Pedro Paterno and Pardo de Tavera to the people’s struggle against the “clique of Macapagal-Arroyo-Reyes-Ople.” Angelo Reyes is the current defense secretary who oversaw the drafting and signing of the MLSA while Blas Ople, foreign secretary, supported it. 

Similar rallies were also held in the cities of Baguio, Angeles, Naga, San Pablo, Batangas, Iloilo, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Davao as part of the national day of protest against the re-launch of the president’s “strong republic.”

At the Don Chino Roces Bridge, Teddy Casiño, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan – New Patriotic Alliance) said that “Arroyo’s ‘strong republic’ is strong only because it rests under Uncle Sam’s skirt.” “MLSA, government’s adherence to International Monetary Fund-World Bank impositions and the rigodon of military officials” are the proofs, he added.

Bayan Muna Rep. Crispin Beltran, Carmen “Nanay Mameng” Deunida and Elmer Labog of KMU led the burning of Macapagal-Arroyo’s effigy inside a “strong republic” miniature temple.

A night of poetry

The Roces rally was followed by a night of poetry reading and concert, dubbed “Gising Kabataan,” at the Mehan Garden near Liwasang Bonifacio. It was organized by the youth organization Anakbayan in celebration of its fourth anniversary and that of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM or Patriotic Youth). Founded by Jose Ma. Sison, KM figured during the 1970s First Quarter Storm.

The “Assembly of Patriots,” meanwhile, was organized by the coalition, Out With U.S. Troops Now! (Out Now!) and Bayan.

Among the points raised in the assembly were the dragging of the Philippines into U.S. wars, vague combined military operations and other deployments, virtual basing and the constitutionality of the MLSA.

Former Navy Capt. Danilo Vizmanos, Out Now! Convenor, said that the Philippines has “seemingly incurable disease: the never-ending relationship with U.S.” This “malignant tumor,” he said, cannot be solved by the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Mutual Defense Treaty or MLSA, but through “surgical incision” of these treaties.

Former Sen. Wigberto Tañada warned that the government through MLSA violated the 1987 Constitution which prohibits the establishment of foreign military bases in the country. Sen. Loren Legarda who, along with Guingona and three other senators opposed the VFA ratification in 1999, expressed similar sentiments in her message read by Beltran. Bulatlat.com

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