On-ground mobilization spilled onto the streets as protesters assembled in various points around Metro Manila before proceeding to the Chinese Consulate in time for the commemoration on 123rd Philippine Independence Day.
Protesters deemed that the spirit of independence have been subverted way back, but much more so up to this day under the current administration when the country is again experiencing incursions in its territorial sovereignty by a foreign country.
The continuing incursions of the Chinese government into the Philippine’s exclusive economic zone have been condemned by many quarters. But President Rodrigo Duterte refrained from criticizing China, continued to praise its leadership and credited China’s investments and donations to the country, including especially the Covid-19 vaccines.
‘Atin ang Pinas, China Layas’
Duterte Wakasan Movement, a newly-formed coalition critical of Duterte’s administration, led the Independence Day protest. The group is composed of progressive individuals, lawmakers, artists, and church workers among others.
The group urged the government to condemn in unequivocal terms the continuing foreign military incursions of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Various government branches and officials have issued missives decrying China’s latest incursions, but the Philippine president has instead issued a gag order and asked for civilized conversation when it comes to China.
Duterte’s failure in asserting territorial integrity over the disputed seas was seen as a mockery of the country’s century-old independence from direct foreign invasion.
“Hindi natin makita na tayo ay tunay na malaya dahil tayo ay patuloy na niyuyurakan ng mga dayuhan, ang ating mga dagat, ang ating mga isla, ang ating mga yamang dagat na kinakamkam ng mga dayuhan,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) spokesperson Renato Reyes.
[We cannot see that we are truly free because foreign nations continue to trample us, our seas, islands, and natural resources that they usurp.]
Reyes recalled the favorable ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in July 2016, just as Duterte sat on the presidency, saying that the disputed waters are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
However, Duterte ridiculed the arbitrary ruling on May 6 this year. He said that it is only a piece of paper that can be thrown to a waste basket.
Chinese ships have been repeatedly seen breaching territorial waters. Several encounters also include direct intimidation and harassment to Filipino fisherfolks and the crew of ABS-CBN journalist Chiara Zambrano.
Around 220 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels were reported to have swarmed the Julian Felipe reef on March 21 this year.
‘End Dependence’
League of Filipino Students vice chairperson Metro Manila Joshua Sales lamented that the ongoing military presence of China in WPS only worsened the plight Filipino fisherfolks. Their plight worsened due to the economic crisis brought by the pandemic and extended lockdown.
“Nawawalan na ng kabuhayan ang mga mangingisda natin dito sa Pilipinas, samantalang itong si Duterte ay walang pakundangan at nais pang ibenta ang ating soberanya at tila di alintana ang mamamayang Pilipino na naghihikahos sa gutom at walang makuhang sapat na ayuda sa panahon ng pandemya,” Sales asserted
Duterte also did not push through with his decision to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US government. The decision came from Duterte’s tirades against the cancellation of the US visa of ally and friend Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, said to be in connection with his role in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.
“Wala na tayong maasahan sa rehimeng ito. Kaya naman makatwiran lamang ang panawagan ng mga kabataan na wakasan na ang patuloy na pagpapakatuta sa US at China, wakasan na ang patuloy na panunupil sa mga kritiko at aktibista, wakasan na ang patuloy na panunungkulan ni Duterte sa bansang kanyang inalipin at binusabos,” he continued.
[We can no longer rely on this regime. That is why it is only justified for the youth to call for an end to puppetry to US and China, an end to repression of critics and activists, end Duterte’s continued tenure in the country he has enslaved and subjugated.]
This was the second time that the Independence Day protest was held despite the country being placed under lockdown or varying iterations of the community quarantine.
Last year, the protest was a ‘Grand Mañanita’ in protest of the dual standards in punishing lockdown ‘violators’, when the then-chief police of Metro Manila held a birthday celebration despite a ban on mass gatherings. More than a hundred thousand were apprehended for varying quarantine violations. The protest was also held in condemnation of the Anti-Terrorism Law, then-pending in Congress and enacted weeks later, on July 3 last year.
