LFS protests US intervention in the Philippines
says RP independence “a sham”

Press Release
June 12, 2008

The League of Filipino Students held a rally at the United States Embassy in Manila today to protest the “sham independence” of the Philipppines and to call for an end to “US intervention” in the country.

“Today, the country is celebrating 110 years of our declaration of independence. We students cannot join the government’s celebrations for we know that our country is yet to win genuine independence from foreign control,” said Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of the LFS.

Crisostomo said that the country remains a colony of the United States due to the continuing intervention in the country’s political, military and economic affairs.

“We have a puppet president who blindly obeys the dictates of the US and other foreign powers even if it is at the expense of Filipinos,” he added.

According to Crisostomo, “We still remember Nicole and how our government stood by the side of the convicted rapist Daniel Smith by allowing him to be detained insidide the US embassy instead of Philippine jails.”

The youth leader said that besides the US influence on our armed forces through policies and programs like the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Balikatan exercises, their dictates extends to our economy as well.

Crisostomo explained that the current economic crisis being experienced by the country including the 9.6% inflation rate was the result of the government’s neo-liberal policies that were pushed by the US.

The students said that they shall never celebrate Independence Day until the Philippines becomes freed from “imperialist control.”

“As a result of government subservience to foreign dictates, our country has become a mere source of raw materials for their markets and of cheap labor for their industries,” said Crisostomo. ###

Reference:

Vencer Crisosomo, National Chairperson, 09228262606, venzie@gmail.com
Ron Villegas, National Vice-chairperson and Information Officer, 09157991059, ronvil@gmail.com

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