"See you in a liberated Philippines" - DC4 Op-ed
Released May 24, 2023
Written by Sophie M and Brittany T, two of the DC4:
"There are no killings in the Philippines." That's what they said as the four of us sat just feet away from a closed door where Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was dining with some of the Philippines' top billionaires. As we chanted "No justice, no peace, stop the killings in the Philippines," Marcos convened with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Enrique Razon, and other wealthy elites with long track records of human rights violations and the exploitation of millions of Filipinos. Despite their crimes against our people, it was us and two other organizers who were arrested that night.
This dinner happened on May 2, the week that Marcos made his first official visit to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Biden. Had it not been for the diplomatic immunity granted by the US government, the Philippine President would have been arrested for the $353 million U.S. contempt order for the human rights violations committed under Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Carrying on his father's legacy, Marcos took the opportunity to forge and strengthen military and economic deals with the president and U.S. investors, effectively selling out the Philippines to U.S. imperialism.
Just a few weeks earlier, Marcos granted the U.S. military access to build four new U.S. military bases in the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, in addition to the five existing bases. During his trip to D.C., Marcos adopted new bilateral defense guidelines, which include provisions about obligatory Philippine support for the U.S. military if there is a conflict between the U.S. and China in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos also catered to foreign business interests, making the Philippines even more reliant on foreign investments through the U.S.-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. These trade agreements benefit the richest 1% of the Philippines while destroying our land and furthering the exploitation of Filipino workers.
Even though Marcos is constantly traveling abroad to avoid the problems back home, it's not every day that we are paid a visit by the president of the Philippines. Throughout his visit, our organizations planned protests to confront Marcos at every turn. We did not let him cozy up to foreign investors on the peoples' dime without making it known that he is unwelcome in D.C.
When we protested at the restaurant on May 2nd, we were met with taunting laughter by the security detail, telling us there are no killings in the Philippines. How can they explain the brutal killings of the teachers and activists in the New Bataan 5? The peace consultants of the Catbalogan 10? The thousands of Filipinos tortured and killed under Marcos Sr. during martial law in the 1970's, and the thousands more killed in former President Duterte's war on the poor? Marcos' campaign of misinformation is an attempt to portray activists as criminals and terrorists, when in reality it is the Philippine government terrorizing and exploiting our people.
At a restaurant where side dishes cost more than what the average family in the Philippines makes in a day, and the entire meal what an average family can make in a year, Marcos and his cronies celebrated their deals with foreign investors that will exacerbate the economic crisis in the Philippines, not help to resolve it. Instead of answering the demands of the people for increased wages and decreased commodity prices, the Philippine government has its eyes set on appeasing foreign powers, pocketing ill-gotten wealth, and selling out the Philippines to the highest bidder. They deny the blatant attacks on activists, while we know that the state's neglect of its own citizens is killing our people.
The Marcos regime makes it clear that they put profits over peoples' needs, which is why we must advance the National Democratic struggle overseas and demand genuine solutions to the issues our people face. As overseas members of Anakbayan, we unite with other youth and students to fight for a Philippines that is free from foreign intervention and upholds people's democratic rights. The current system in the Philippines benefits only the few on top. This is why we struggle for a system that provides true solutions to the poverty, exploitation, and oppression that the majority of Filipinos face everyday.
On the court date given to us after our arrest for protesting Marcos in D.C., the prosecution declined to file charges against us. We see this as a victory not only for ourselves, but also for the broader movement we are part of, as a confirmation that activism is not a crime. Our arrests have reminded us "for whom" we do this work and why we joined National Democratic organizations: for displaced Filipinos like ourselves and the exploited masses back home. To all overseas Filipinos, join us in fighting for the society we want to see, and one day, we will see each other in a liberated Philippines.
Link to press kit here. More photos and videos available upon request.
Link to Press Conference
###
