Women's group bucks more US troops in PHL

The women's group will march and picket in front of  Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City around 10:30 a.m. to protest the alleged lopsided agreement which it claims will virtually bring back US bases in the country even without a Senate approval. 

 

"US and Philippine officials are conspiring to fast-track an unconstitutional agreement and reverse history by bringing back the US bases which the Filipino people booted out in 1991,” Gabriela secretary general Joms Salvador said. 

 

She also cautioned that the de facto return of US bases will worsen violence against women and children in areas where US troops are stationed just like in Subic and Clark in the past. 

 

"More than 60,000 women have been prostituted in Subic and Clark. More than 3,000 cases of VAWC were committed but not even a single perpetrator was punished. While the US insists that the Philippines will retain control over facilities used by US troops, we know very well that under the defunct Military Bases Agreement and the current Visiting Forces Agreement, American soldiers are practically untouchables," she added. 

 

With US President Barack Obama’s maiden visit to the Philippines on October 11 to 12, the groups vows to intensify its protest against the new agreement on rotational presence. 

"The US’ only interest is to maintain economic control and military supremacy in Asia-Pacific. There is nothing for women but continued suffering and violence in this agreement,” Salvador said.