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National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni on Monday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for “standing up” against the Philippines’ longtime ally the United States, which he called as the “exploiter and oppressor of the Filipino people.”
Speaking in a forum on the peace process at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Jalandoni said the US should not expect Filipinos to “bow and be grateful to them.”
“We are proud that President Duterte stands up to the US and declare our sovereignty and independence. Sabi niya nga (Like what he said) we’re no longer a colony of the United States,” Jalandoni said in a chance interview.
“Meron din sa US yung iba ayaw nila ‘yung policies ni President Duterte and the policies of the revolutionary movement. Gusto nila ma-control pa rin ‘yung economy and politics of the Philippines.
(There are also those in the US who do not approve of President Duterte’s policies and the policies of the revolutionary movement. They want to retain control of the Philippine economy and politics.)
How many US companies are there in the Philippines making profit while the Filipino people remain poor because of their exploitation and oppression. And they expect us to bow to them and be grateful to them?” he added.
Duterte, who earlier said he was “not a fan” of the US, said the Philippines will follow an independent foreign policy. The President also said he wanted US military forces out of Mindanao, noting that “we will never have peace in the land” for as long as we stick with our Western ally.
READ: Duterte: I’m no fan of US
Duterte’s anti-American pronouncements and seemingly uneasy relationship with the US came amid criticisms and calls for investigation of alleged extrajudicial killings amid his administration’s war on drugs.
The President said he would not take a lecturing on human rights from US counterpart Barack Obama, as he continuously brought up century-old atrocities committed by American soldiers.
Jalandoni also warned against “peace spoilers” who oppose the ongoing peace negotiations between the NDF and the Philippine government, particularly “big land lords who don’t want social and economic reforms.”
“Ayaw nilang magkaroon ng (They don’t want) economic sovereignty for the Filipino people,” he said.
The next round of formal talks is set from Oct. 6 to 10 in Oslo, Norway. CDG
READ: Duterte changes tune: We need US after all
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