Why ban foreigners from rallies?

We denounce the warning issued by the Aquino administration, through the Bureau of Immigration, forbidding foreigners from joining anti-pork barrel rallies.

It seems that this administration has lost its senses. Any reasonable human being would naturally be angered or disturbed when he or she sees massive poverty and hunger while government officials steal billions of pesos of people’s money. It is therefore morally wrong to threaten a person in order to dissuade him or her from expressing his or her concern for fellow human beings. It is immoral to stop such humane, natural act of solidarity.

Instead of threatening foreigners who are showing compassion for the victims of corruption, the President should ban US troops, who are a bane to peace, to human rights and to our nation’s independence, from our country. President Aquino would do better by abrogating the Visiting Forces Agreement which is an affront to our sovereignty. We want just peace not unjust wars to which we become a target due to the presence of US troops.

Instead of welcoming foreign investments that plunder our nation’s resources and cause irreplaceable damage to Mother Nature and the lives of the people, President Aquino should extend a listening ear to the voices of foreign friends who express concern for the wellbeing of the Filipino people.

Our world needs more people who share love and show compassion for others. Foreigners who show greater love for our people and care for their welfare should be commended, rather than threatened.

As President Aquino remains callous to the suffering of his fellow Filipinos, what more is left to save his credibility? The truth is that until President Aquino decides to truly abolish his own pork barrel, the world has no reason to believe his “daang matuwid.”  The world is watching. Being “inhospitable” to those who act in solidarity with the victims of scams and corruption speaks volumes about the heartless government the Philippines has today.

—NARDY SABINO,

general secretary,

Promotion of Church People’s Response,

3/F NCCP Building,

879 Edsa, Quezon City,

[email protected]