US Armed Forces Will Protect US Interests, Not Philippine Sovereignty – GWP Rep. Emmi de Jesus

“Nakakahiya ang Pangulo na inaasa sa ibang bansa ang kapayapaan ng kanyang sariling bansa,” thus said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the President Aquino’s statement that the Philippines is looking to the US for help in building up its defense capabilities, amid a maritime territorial dispute with China and a host of other security issues.

“Defense of Philippine sovereignty is the exact opposite of what the US wants. By increasing our reliance on US military support in exchange for allowing the US to build up its military presence, the more the Philippines is unable to develop its ability to defend its sovereignty,” added De Jesus.

The Gabriela solon issued this statement noting that today, April 16 is the official start of 2012 Balikatan, and the Philippines will once again host some 6,000 troops which, according to the local military officials, aims to enhance the AFP and US Armed Forces interoperability in the conduct of non-traditional military aspects that reach out communities in need of urgent assistance.

“Ensuring peace and stability of a country does not rely on stronger nations but on the ability of its leaders to ensure that the citizens’ rights and welfare are well taken cared of. This is not happening in this country because President Aquino has not shown political will in asserting Philippine sovereignty and is serving as a neocolonial adjunct of the US. He shows a distorted sense of nationalism by giving in to the demands of the US in the guise of protecting the national sovereignty," De Jesus further quipped.

“Our women do not need more US soldiers in our land who, as described by a US marine publication, are attracted to the Philippines because of its ‘raunchy party atmosphere where alcohol and scantily clad women have attracted Marines and sailors over the years’. Our women are not for sale and neither are they raised up by their families to be treated as GROs by US soldiers. It is fun in the Philippines only when our women are treated with respect and their dignity are upheld. And it is definitely more fun in the Philippines if we have a President who can assert national sovereignty instead of assuming a mendicant attitude, begging for US military ‘support’,” the Gabriela solon ended.###