EDITORIAL - Who rises for Philippine sovereignty?

When six American Marines allegedly raped a Filipino woman, all the leftist elements in this country leapt up as one to denounce it. Among the more vociferous and rabid of the lot were the leftist members of Congress.

Now, the latest news is that the European Parliament, the legislative body of the European Union, apparently on instigation of Spain, is demanding that President Arroyo promptly pardon and free Francisco Juan Larrañaga.

Larrañaga is a young Spanish-Filipino, a Cebuano in fact, who, along with several others, has been accused, tried and convicted by Philippine courts, including the Supreme Court, in the rape-slay of two young Cebuano girls, the Chiong sisters.

Of course the news just came in, so we do not expect the leftists, who love to proclaim themselves as nationalists, to jump up as quickly as they did in the alleged rape case involving six American GIs.

But a day or two hence and we would be monitoring the national decibel levels to see if there is going to be any vociferous and rabid howl of protest by the leftists against this clear intervention by foreigners into purely Philippine affairs.

We are interested to see how the leftists would react because, for all their bitching about how the fires of nationalism burn in their breasts, it seems they are only quick to the draw when it comes to the Americans.

One of the most glaring proofs of this was when China suddenly built permanent structures on islets in the Spratly chain that are claimed by the Philippines. Not a peep of protest was heard from our self-proclaimed nationalists.

Neither is there even a word of sympathy that the leftists can utter for the families of Filipino soldiers killed in ambush by communist New People's Army rebels. Yet, when it is the soldiers who get to kill rebels, the denunciations are automatic.

Now, this intrusion by the European Parliament into Philippine affairs, including its arrogant demand on our president, is a big insult on all Filipinos. We hope and pray even the leftists will join the Filipino nation in condemning this attack on our sovereignty.