Progressive groups under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) coalition staged a protest in Pasay City on July 22 against the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, condemning the US-led Pax Silica initiative and expanding US influence in the Philippines.
Protesters attempted to march closer to the meeting venue but were blocked by police, leading to clashes as security forces pushed back demonstrators. Activists accused authorities of suppressing legitimate dissent against policies that further align the Philippines with US geopolitical and military interests.
“Rubio comes to Manila promising ‘endless jobs’ under the US-led Pax Silica initiative, and Marcos is its eager salesman. But for millions of Filipino migrants, these are just empty words – much like what we expect from Marcos’ fifth SONA,” said BAYAN International Officer Andan Bonifacio during an online press conference on July 22.
Bonifacio criticized Pax Silica as a repackaging of the same foreign investment-dependent economic model that has failed to create sufficient jobs at home and has instead pushed millions of Filipinos to seek work abroad.
“No amount of AI overhype can hide the fact that Marcos has failed to build an economy that provides decent jobs and living wages for Filipinos,” he added.
The protesters opposed plans to establish a US-backed economic security corridor focused on semiconductors, critical minerals, and advanced technologies, warning that the project could turn parts of the country into a strategic hub serving US economic and military requirements rather than national development.
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