By A. Mañalac and M. Bartolome
Police injured protesters opposing the arrival of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the Philippines’ hosting of major Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related engagements in Pasay City on Wednesday.
The rally, led by Bagong Alyansa Makabayan (BAYAN) and allied organizations, planned to march from the Aliw Theater to PICC, but was blocked by the police, manhandling activists and even media workers covering the event.
Bangsamoro leader Amirah Lidasan was hurt by the police during an arrest attempt. Lidasan later accused the Philippine National Police (PNP) of singling her out because she is a Muslim.
“I know I was targeted because I am a Muslim and wearing a hijab. What they did is discrimination,” Lidasan said.
Attack against media workers
The police arrested and briefly detained Bulatlat correspondent Jian Sanz. Sanz said the PNP’s claim she was “rescued” from the commotion was a lie.
The PNP also tried to arrest photojournalists Bullit Marquez and Renato Dilan, earning widespread condemnation from media organizations.
Marquez’s camera was reportedly damaged due to the scuffle. The police said the arrests were due to an “honest mistake.”
US’ Bellum Silica
The rally protested Rubio’s attendance at the ASEAN meeting in Pasay City as well as the US-instigated Pax Silica project in the Philippines.
BAYAN said it rejects Malacañang’s dismissal of concerns over the initiative as a mere economic and technological opportunity, glossing over its real geopolitical agenda and the grave dangers it poses to Filipinos.
“In truth, Pax Silica is a key component of the US strategy to dominate the global AI (artificial intelligence) supply chain and wage economic warfare against China,” the group said.
From securing rare earth minerals and other strategic resources, to controlling semiconductor production, to establishing energy- and water-intensive AI data centers, the initiative seeks to restructure global production in line with the US’ strategic rivalry with China, BAYAN added.
The Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government committed 1,618-hectares at New Clark City for the project, sparking significant water use, electricity consumption and other ecological concerns.
“The government must abandon policies that undermine national sovereignty and development to US strategic interests and instead pursue an independent foreign policy, national industrialization, and the protection of our country’s resources for present and future generations,” BAYAN said. #