No to reinstatement of US bases in the country

Partido Lakas ng Masa condemns the moves of the Philippine government to pave the way for US basing facilities in the Philippines, including giving the United States access to Philippine military bases and facilities at Clark and Subic, as admitted by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

This confirms the view that President Aquino did everything possible to ensure a Liberal Party majority in the Senate because this is his first agenda. The new Senate hasn’t even convened, and this has already been put on the agenda.

President Aquino will undo the 1991 historic victory of the Filipino people, when the Senate then, during his mother’s presidency, voted against the retention of US bases in the Philippines. Reinstating US bases on Philippine soil in the guise of “access” could go down in history as a shameful legacy of this administration.

The Aquino administration has embraced the US strategic shift of military might to Asia. It also seems to have embraced the US anti-China policy. While we are opposed to China’s bullying tactics in the region, especially in relation to the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, it seems Secretary Gazmin is champing at the bit to go to war with China.

We consider the defense secretary’s statements and actions irresponsible. They endanger our nation and our people. We have no confidence that a warmongering defense secretary will serve the sovereign interests of the country. We therefore call for the resignation of Secretary Gazmin and call on the Aquino administration to appoint someone who is genuinely committed to a peaceful resolution of the regional disputes with China and who will do his or her utmost to pursue such a goal.

We also welcome the initiative taken by Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares in filing House Resolution No. 08 calling for the scrapping of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement and of plans to give American forces temporary access to Philippine military bases. We will campaign in support of this bill.

—SONNY MELENCIO,

chair, Partido Lakas ng Masa,

[email protected]