Marcos warns US to use HR issues to gain security favor from PH
SENATOR Imee Marcos warned on the use by the United States of human rights issues against the government of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte “to strike a bargain on what should strictly be a security issue.”
In a statement supporting Pres. Duterte’s demand for more monetary compensation in exchange for the continuation of the ‘Visiting Forces Agreement’ (VFA) and other military pacts with the United States, Marcos pointed out that the Philippines “not only enhances the forward defense perimeter of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region but even subsidizes its utility expenses in our very own bases.”
Right after his election last year, US President and Democratic Party standard bearer, Joe Biden, confirmed that he would also be ‘weaponizing’ the issue of human rights against other governments accused of human rights violations such as the Philippines and Turkey.
The weaponization of human rights issues has been a major feature of the US government under the Democrats as exemplified by the administration of Pres. Jimmy Carter.
Marcos also bared that under Article 7 of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the US and the Philippines signed under the Noynoy Aquino administration, it is the Philippines that is “subsidizing the utility expenses” of US military forces at a time “when many Filipinos cannot even pay their water and electricity bills” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marcos also reiterated her call for a thorough review of EDCA, saying it allows the U.S. not only to skirt the Constitutional ban on foreign bases but also to avoid paying the annual compensation that was due the Philippine government.
“Even superpowers need allies, and the new American pivot to the Asia-Pacific shows the enhanced role of our region and the Philippines,” Marcos said, countering criticism of President Duterte’s demand for better compensation as “extortion” by US local puppets.
Marcos agrees with President Duterte that the $3.9 billion in U.S. military assistance to the Philippines from 2001 to 2017 was paltry compared to the $16 billion given to Pakistan in the same period.
“The U.S. fears that if the Pakistani government fails, the 150 nuclear warheads it has produced may fall in the hands of the Taliban and could be used against America,” Marcos said.
“Without the Philippines, America’s supply chain and security commitments in the region are vulnerable,” she pointed out further.
“But our hosting U.S. forces makes us a potential and logical target of America’s adversaries if war breaks out in the region, even if it does not directly involve us.
“If China attacks Taiwan for its push towards independence, America’s committed response to protect Taiwan will not be as swift (without the Philippines), having to come from bases in Japan, South Korea, Guam or Australia,” Marcos explained.
