The Visiting Forces Agreement is in “full force again” as President Rodrigo Duterte recalled his earlier order to terminate the lopsided military pact between the Philippine and US government.
LGBTQIA+ group Bahaghari assailed President Duterte for being “subservient to US imperialism.”
“We assert that the Visiting Forces Agreement, which has enabled and exacerbated injustice for Jennifer Laude to the greatest extent and which continue to serve as Duterte’s offerings in his ploy for continued US subservience, must be finally abolished to bring justice for our slain sister.”
By DEE AYROSO
By DEE AYROSO
The VFA and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) have not modernized the armed forces. Military training between the troops ensured allegiance to US interests and adoption of counterinsurgency strategies, which have been brutal to the core.
“During this 180-day transition period, the Filipino people must remain vigilant against any reversal by the Philippine Government or any intervention by the US government.”
“Despite Duterte’s China pivot, the US military continues to hold war games and military training with Philippine troops under the Balikatan exercises.” By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com MANILA – An expert witness during the recently-concluded tribunal revealed the continuing presence and intervention of the US government in Philippine affairs, resulting to gross human rights…
“There would be no other way to best honor the memory of Jennifer Laude and boost the people’s cry for justice than by putting an end to the special treatment enjoyed by Pemberton and abrogating Edca, VFA.”
“If President Duterte cannot get support from his officials, we assure him that Filipino workers are willing to back his assertion of our sovereignty against US and other foreign intervention once he has turned it into actual, concrete and written policies.”
“It is time to rock the boat, it is time to assert Philippine sovereignty, to junk VFA, Edca.”