“Ang magnanakaw ba ay patutuluyin mo sa iyong bahay?” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Metro Manila Chairperson Raymond Palatino.
[Do you let thieves into your homes?]
Palatino asked the question in his speech as they held another protest against the ongoing Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Mendiola this afternoon.
“Ang mga magnanakaw ba ay mainit na pagtanggap ang ating ipapakita? [Do we show thieves a warm welcome?]” he asked.
The protest was held in the ‘homeless camp’ in Mendiola built by residents who lost their homes in a demolition in Manggahan Floodway, Pasig almost a month ago.
“Ito po ay simbolo ng tunay na pamana o kahulugan ng globalisasyon o ng imperyalismo sa ating bayan [This homeless camp is the true symbol and meaning of what we inherit from globalization and imperialism.],’ Palatino referred to the homeless camp.
Palatino decried that while President Rodrigo Duterte ignored the homeless, he spent billions of people’s money on leaders and meetings that has brought upon the Filipino people land grabbing and plunder of its forests and minerals.
“Sa naganap na East Asia Summit at ASEAN Summit, sa halip na i-welcome natin ang iba’t ibang leader ng mayayamang bansa, protesta ang ating isinalubong. Dahil sa totoo lang, ang kahulugan ng EAS ay mas malawak na kahirapan, kagutuman, karahasan sa mahihirap sa ating bayan [In the ongoing EAS and ASEAN Summit, instead of welcoming leaders of various rich countries, we meet them with protests. In truth, EAS meant broader poverty, hunger and violence against the poor in our country],” said Palatino.
He said it has also brought contractualization and endo (end of contract) to the workers.
“Gusto nilang kumita sa pagnanakaw sa ating likas na yaman. Kasama nila sa pagnanakaw na yan ang ating pamahalaan. [They want to profit from pillaging our natural resources. Our government conspire with them in this plunder.] Sellout of our sovereignty, sellout of our patrimony, sellout of our dignity,” exclaimed Palatino.
He said it is only fitting that the people meet these international meetings and these world leaders with protest as they bring deluge to the people.
“Kaya po hindi Filipino hospitality ang ating ipapakita sa mga magnanakaw, sa mga mandarambong, sa mga pasista, sa mga lider ng bansa na ang dala sa Pilipinas, ang pasalubong sa Pilipinas, mga armas pandigma, mga drones [That is why we do not receive thieves, plunderers, fascists with Filipino hospitality, these leader of nations who gift the Philippines with defense arms, drones],” said Palatino.
Gang of 5
The group burned images of leaders of the United States of America, China, Russia, Japan and Australia with bloated heads and adorned with their defense equipment in the country and their defense arms donations.
Palatino said these defense equipment donations would be used for Duterte’s all out war, while these have failed to modernize the Philippine military in such a long time ‘defense cooperations’ have existed.
“We are not against the country of these men or their people of their nation. We are against their leaders and governments’ encroachment in our country’s economy and politics,” clarified Palatino.
Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was depicted with the Reaper drones that were used in the Marawi conflict that attacked and reportedly killed Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Maute clan leader Omar Maute.
Palatino also denounced the destructive mining activities of big Australian mining corporations in Mindanao.
China Premier Li Keqiang was shown with the China’s frigate and bomber planes that patrols the South China Sea reclamation of the country.
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shown with the Japanese Frigate warships donations to the country and a Japanese warship. Japanese warships have been freely allowed to dock in the country from previous years up to present.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia was shown with the guns donated to the Philippines and the Russian warship that arrived in the country that Duterte boasted as the sign he is open to all nations, not just the US.
US President Donald Trump was depicted with the P3 Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft, Puma drones and USS McCain destroyer warship of the US. The US soldiers were first to respond to the Marawi conflict with the Puma drones that they also donated or sold to the Philippines, along with firearms, mortars and armored vehicles.
“Ang CEO ng imperyalismo na si Donald Trump, kahit saan magpunta, sinusundan siya ng protesta. Siya ang lider na nagsasalita laban sa mga kababaihan, pambansang minorya, migrante. Idagdag natin ang ‘war on terror’ ng US sa mundo sa listahan ng kasalanan niya. Pati itong military intervention na ito ng US sa ating bansa, ilang dekada na ito at nagpapatuloy [The CEO of imperialism Donald Trump is hounded by protests wherever he goes. He is the leader who spoke against women, national minorities, migrants. Let’s include the US war on terror in the world among his list of sins. Also the military intervention of the US in the country has gone on for decades],” said Palatino.
 Metro Manila Chairperson Raymond Palatino.){kind=link}