Filipinos demand an end to U.S. intervention!

Condemn the US-PH Military intelligence deal GSOMIA and the “Combined Coordination Center” de facto U.S. base

BAYAN USA joins BAYAN Philippines in denouncing the Marcos Jr government for signing the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between the Philippines and the United States and for agreeing to build a “Combined Coordination Center” (CCC). The agreement was executed on Monday November 18th, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City by Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the Defense Secretary of the Philippines, and his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin III.

This initiative will reinforce U.S. dominance in the Philippines and uphold the United Sates’ geopolitical interest in the Asia Pacific under the incoming Trump presidency. The CCC being created will essentially be a new de facto Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) base.

Who holds control over the Combined Coordination Center (CCC)?

Teodoro said, the CCC would provide “a unified picture of the shared areas of responsibility and common approaches to threats against both our securities.” The sovereignty of the Philippines is not a shared responsibility nor is it an area that should be shared. It is solely the Filipino peoples’ fight. The creation of this joint center at a military base in Metro Manila, which also houses the Department of National Defense and other security agencies, futher shows how much the Marcos administration is subservient to the United States government.

What is the logic behind the government's decision to permit a foreign organization to establish a facility within Camp Aguinaldo?

This joint center is set to operate similarly to the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) bases. This is particularly concerning, as this unofficial EDCA site will be located in the national capital.

The statement that the joint center will handle disaster situations like typhoons is complete nonsense, deceptive, and just another publicity stunt to mainly increase the U.S. military's presence and involvement. Previous typhoon responses in collaboration with the U.S. have been tools to gain access to local communities and establish more U.S. military presence, equipment, and forces.

“And I'm sure it will benefit future generations of both our peoples to come because although we may change people, the values don't change. Freedom, truth, the freedom to do what one wants without being a stooge of what party have you, and freedom to stake a livelihood in what is rightfully an area where one can build a livelihood on,” - Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

This will in fact NOT benefit the Filipino people now or our future. There will be no future generations of the Filipino people with heightening U.S. militarism and imperialism, and instead will ramp up the US-Marcos Regime’s destruction, violence, and displacement in the Philippines. This will only further our position as a pawn in the proxy war with the U.S. and China.

The Filipino people need to keep fighting for our own national freedom and genuine democracy so that we can stand strong and choose our own path for our future without any foreign influence steering us astray.

“We are more than allies. We are family.” - Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

WE ARE NOT FAMILY! 125 years since the Philippine-American War, and since then, complete U.S. rule over the Philippines’ economically, politically and further shown through this deal, militarily.

Let us all recommit to finishing the unfinished struggle for national and social liberation in the Philippines from U.S. imperialism and its local puppets.

The Filipino people’s freedom is in our hands, not any foreign and hungry imperialist power like the U.S. Time and time again, we as the people defend our sovereignty, build our livelihoods, and continue to push forward genuine change.

As an overseas chapter within the belly of the beast, we in BAYAN USA call on our kababayan to protest the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the building of de facto EDCA base of the Combined Coordination Center (CCC).

We must continue to advance the campaign demanding the United States Out of the Philippines!