No to US expansionism

MANILA, Philippines—Militant groups on Friday denounced the plan for increased military cooperation with the US.

“Increased US military presence undermines our national sovereignty. While we have voted to kick the US bases out more than two decades ago, this move bolstered by the VFA  clearly disregards and blurs the position we have taken,” said Aaron Pedrosa, vice president for internal affairs for Sanlakas-Cebu.

“It reaffirms our geographic importance to the US but at the same time highlights our political subservience to US. We say no to US expansionism,” he said.

“The US government may say that their plan to expand its military presence in the Philippines is part of their game plan to help the country’s external security. But for us, this is another indication that they really want to control our government, politics and our economy,” said Flor Acbo, Bayan Eastern Visayas regional chair.

Edwin Balajadia, Akbayan Negros spokesperson, said an expanded US presence would only further escalate tensions with China.

Party-list House member Teodoro Casiño (Bayan Muna) on Friday called for a congressional investigation into the planned deal to expand US presence here. Probe on a plan of the US to increase its military toehold in the country in view of China’s aggressiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We were able to get rid of the US bases and we are still fighting against the VFA, we do not need the government to once again sell out our sovereignty,” he said in a statement.

He said he and his group have been calling for the scrapping of the VFA for years and that the Aquino administration has already called for its review.

“The review has not even started yet and we are going to enter a new agreement that would further put us in a disadvantaged position. From all indications, this is a US move to reassert its presence in the Pacific Ocean not only to block China’s increasing dominance as well as stave off the US’ floundering economy,” he said. With reports from Carla Gomez, Jhunnex Napallacan and Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas; AFP and Reuters