A fake independence!

That was what Christian Tuayon, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros, said yesterday as he and about 100 other members of militant organizations staged a protest rally at the Fountain of Justice at the Bacolod City Hall car park on the 116th anniversary of the country’s independence.

Tuayon said that, until now, the Philippines is not truly free because President Benigno Aquino III remains a puppet of the United States of America.

He said the signing of the 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States that allows a larger U.S. military presence in the country is one proof that the country is not independent.

He said the agreement also permits the establishment of a framework to boost the rotation of U.S. troops, warplanes and ships to the country free from inspection by the Philippine law enforcers.

Aside from being dependent on the United States, the Philippines is also not free from corruption perpetrated by the people in the government service, he said.

He also said it is good that the Aquino government is bent in prosecuting those who are involved in the Pork Barrel scam but they are appealing that the President does not single out those who are not his allies.

He said the Aquino government should not focus only on Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla, Jr. but also on the cabinet secretaries named in the scam.

Makabayan Regional Coordinator Alejandro Deoma, meanwhile, said it is sad to think that even the war veterans who fought for the country’s freedom are being ignored by the present administration by giving them a meager compensation.

Deoma said “we need to be freed from the domination of foreign countries like U.S. and others.”

The rally was capped with a noise barrage and a prayer that, hopefully the country will indeed be truly free from the bondage of poverty and corruption.*APN

back to top