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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Local militants hailed President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement of breaking the country’s military and economic ties with the United States.
In a rally staged at Plazoleta Gay, they expressed support to the President’s charting an “independent foreign policy.”
“The United States has been controlling our country for over a hundred years now. This is why we are not progressing,” claimed Roxanne Javellana, chairperson of Gabriella-Iloilo City.
Her group urged the Duterte administration to reject “US-imposed” economic policies such as privatization and trade liberalization.
During the President’s recent visit to China, he “announce(d) my separation from the United States both in the military (and) economics.”
Duterte also said he was strengthening the country’s ties with China and Russia.
Friday last week’s rally was also participated in by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Panay, Alliance of Health Workers and Government Employees, Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide-Panay, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, Katilingban sang mga Imol sa Syudasd, and Gabriela Youth.
But while they hailed Duterte’s veering away from US influence, the militants were cautious.
“We welcome the President’s plan to strengthen the country’s ties with other nations. But these nations must respect Philippine sovereignty, too, and won’t meddle in our affairs,” stressed Javellana./PN
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