Mass action calling for repeal of Visiting Forces Agreement set today

MANILA, Philippines - The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will lead simultaneous demonstrations today in Manila and Bicol to demand the abrogation of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and to stop the Balikatan exercises.

Renato Reyes Jr. said the Bicol protest, which will be held in Legazpi City, will be led by the Bicol Alliance For Nationalism Against Balikatan.

He said the Manila protesters would march towards the US embassy in Roxas Boulevard.

“Contrary to what the US Ambassador says, now is the best time to revisit and abrogate the VFA. The Smith incident is a continuing insult to our sovereignty. And the fact that US war games will be allowed despite this unresolved issue is an even greater insult,” Reyes said, adding that May 27, 2009 will mark the 10th anniversary of the VFA ratification.

He accused the US government of “trying to conjure the illusion of reciprocity and mutuality” in the VFA by claiming that it values the agreement as a binding treaty.

“How can a review be too early? It’s been 10 years. There is no better time than now. It’s time to sort the myth from the facts in our relations with the US. It is time to make a comprehensive assessment of this one-sided agreement en route to its abrogation,” Reyes said.

The Arroyo government has claimed that the country benefits immensely from the VFA.

But Bayan argued that the so-called benefits from the VFA, while “highly debatable,” are not worth compromising the sovereignty of the country.    – With Jaime Laude