Government urged to remain neutral in US-Iraq war

As Muslims in Marawi City and students in Metro Manila held anti-war rallies, eleven lawmakers urged President Arroyo yesterday to remain neutral in any war between the United States and Iraq.

The 11 legislators said the government should stop joint military exercises on Philippine soil and order out the remaining American troops.

Sponsoring the resolution were Bayan Muna sectoral Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla, and Representatives Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon, Del de Guzman of Marikina, Ted Failon of Leyte, Benasing Macarambon Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Roseller Barinaga of Zamboanga del Norte, Ernie Clarete of Misamis Occidental and Gilbert Remulla of Cavite.

"The pro-US posturing of the Philippine government goes against the general public sentiment as reflected in a recent Social Weather Stations survey," read the resolution.

The presence of American soldiers here "makes the country vulnerable to retaliatory attacks from enemies of the United States," the lawmakers added.

In Metro Manila, students have embarked on a signature campaign to compel Mrs. Arroyo to withdraw her support for any US military attack against Iraq.

Christina Palabay, secretary general of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), said yesterday many Filipinos do not share the pro-American sentiments of Mrs. Arroyo.

"As a leader, she must represent us –what we want to do or happen," she said. "But what’s happening now is that she is serving her own interests."

Palabay said they will collect at least one million signatures from among the youth to force Mrs. Arroyo to stop dragging the country into the US-Iraq fray.

"(We) believe in the pronouncement of Iraq’s charge d’affaires in Manila Samir-A-Mash Bolous that the US wants to go to war against Iraq because the US was interested in Baghdad’s oil fields," she said.

Palabay said Mrs. Arroyo must take into consideration the plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East before jumping into the US bandwagon.

"I don’t think the government could give employment to any OFW who will be displaced when war breaks out in Iraq," she said. "This is enough for Mrs. Arroyo to stop supporting the US if she really cares for the Filipino people. Mere repatriation plan is not enough to sustain the OFWs’ families."

Other groups that took part in the anti-war rally were: the League of Filipino Students, Katipunan ng mga Kristianong Kabataang Filipino, Anakbayan, and College Editors Guild of the Philippines.

In Marawi City, thousands of people marched in the streets yesterday morning to condemn the US threat to attack Iraq and urged Mrs. Arroyo stop supporting the Americans.

"O Allah the Almighty, punish George W. Bush and his allies, Tony Blair, Ariel Sharon, and Gloria Arroyo and their governments," said Imam Jamil Yahyah, chairman of the Bangsamoro Supreme Council Ulama.

Yahyah led the prayer before the start of the program at Jamiatul Philippines Islamia School

"Many verses in the Holy Quran teach that Muslims are considered as one body and when a part of it is hurt, the whole body feels it. That is why we, the Maranao Muslim are also hurt because of what will happen to our brother Muslims in Iraq," said Sultan Lacsaman Dalidigm, chairman of Islamic Movement for Good Government. –Jess Diaz, Sheila Crisostomo, Lino dela Cruz