Trump is no ordinary foreign guest.

Should Filipinos welcome guests and express concerns another day?

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro thinks so in relation to the possible visit of United States President Donald Trump to the Philippines for the ASEAN Summit in November. 

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) told Malacañang, “Trump is not welcome in the Philippines.”

“Trump is no ordinary foreign guest,” the group said in a statement. “His waterloo in Iran and West Asia, his continuing support for Israel’s genocide in Palestine, the proxy war in Ukraine, and his unprovoked interventions in Venezuela and Cuba, have made the entire world suffer.”

Castro made the request when asked by a reporter during a Palace press briefing on September 23 if there were additional security measures in place for the 49th ASEAN Summit in Metro Manila, considering what happened to the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Investment Forum held at the Grand Hyatt Manila on September 10 where protesters barged to the venue. In this incident, five paralegals who responded to the protest were arrested but were eventually released.

The 1,600-hectare industrial hub under the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative is planned to be built in New Clark City in Tarlac which is within the LEC.

Read: Why Pax Silica is bad for the Philippines

Malacañang declared November 16 to 18, as special non-working days in the National Capital Region (NCR) for the event. Other ASEAN-related meetings are also set to be held.

During the September 23 Malacañang press briefing, Castro did not confirm the attendance of Trump. But the Department of Foreign Affairs has been reportedly preparing for his possible visit, according to an Inquirer report.

Bayan stressed that the country is turning into a forward military base of the U.S. given the established military sites under agreements involving the U.S. and Philippine governments, such as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). It added that Pax Silica would support this alleged military agenda.

Read: Philippines as a US military base?

“Peaceful protests during an international summit are legitimate and effective means for our people to tell visiting leaders and our own government where they stand on issues that directly affect their lives, sovereignty and future,” the multisectoral group said.

It added that the Philippine National Police (PNP) should not use “security” as an excuse to establish protest-free zones. (DAA)