Nationalist groups called President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s upcoming trip to the United States a junket, aimed at showing his government’s subservience to its imperialist master.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) strongly denounced Marcos’ visit on July 20 to 22 it said underscores “unparalleled puppetry to the US government and imperialist interests.”
KMP said the trip is for Marcos to personally “bend the knee” before Washington as a display of unwavering loyalty to his US masters.
“BBM’s trip to the US is not a gesture of diplomacy but an affirmation of loyalty to US imperialism,” KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos said.
Aside from trying to court foreign investments, Marcos’ visit also signals deeper military cooperation and renewed agreements that will further militarize the countryside under the guise of “security cooperation,” KMP feared.
KMP warns the public to remain vigilant. “Every time BBM visits the US, he returns with deals that compromise our national sovereignty — more EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) sites, more foreign troops, and more debt-driven investments that leave farmers and workers behind,” Ramos said.
“While Marcos is dying to meet Donald Trump, he won’t even lift a finger to address the plunging palay prices and listen to the demands of Filipino farmers. The president is more concerned about pleasing Washington than addressing the chronic landlessness, unemployment, and dire socio-economic situation in the country,” he added.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) meanwhile warned against the possibility of the Marcos government agreeing to a zero-tariff regime amid US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 20% tariff against other countries.
“The Philippine government should resist any drive to grovel before Trump and adopt a zero-tariff regime on US goods entering the Philippines,” Bayan said.
The alliance of national democratic organizations said that Trump’s new order is aimed at twisting the arm of other countries such as the Philippines to remove tariffs on US goods.
“The PH tariffs are meant to protect the domestic economy from the influx of imported goods. The PH government should support domestic producers and allow them to develop and not be disadvantaged by cheaper imported goods,” Bayan explained.
“Imperialist countries like the US are only after their own interests. We need to look after our own and assert our sovereignty. Removing PH tariffs will be detrimental to local producers,” Bayan urged.
The group also expressed alarm that the Trump tariffs will be used to get more basing rights for US forces in the Philippines.
“We must not allow economic pressure to be used to violate our sovereignty,” Bayan said, urging the Filipino people to be vigilant about the possibility of the country will being “sold down the river in favor of elite and foreign interests.”
“Remaining an export-oriented economy makes us vulnerable to the tariff wars of the US and other global uncertainties,” it added.
Bayan said the Philippines must start developing its own domestic economy, using land reform and national industrialization as the foundation, provide for the people’s needs and end reliance on imported goods and export earnings.
“It is necessary to support our local producers instead of further opening up our economy to foreign interests. Develop our domestic economy instead of rolling over to Trump and accepting more economic liberalization,” the group said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)