On July 27, as Pres. Marcos delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Congress, various groups under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) will be taking to the streets to highlight the people’s widespread outrage not only against rising prices and low wages, unresolved corruption and continuing impunity, but most importantly, the Marcos Jr. regime’s puppetry to US imperialism and subservience to US Pres. Donald Trump.
People are angry that instead of dismantling the oil, power and water cartels that charge exorbitant rates, the government’s pathetic response to the latest price hikes is to merely announce another round of ayuda. This is insulting and grossly inadequate. Mapupunta lang sa Meralco ang ayuda, at abonado na naman ang taumbayan. It is also intended to downplay Marcos’ stubborn refusal to suspend or remove the windfall VAT on the increasing prices of oil, electricity and basic goods.
Such false solutions show not just Marcos’ shameful indifference to the plight of many struggling Filipinos but also his connivance with the local oligarchs and foreign corporations in raking in superprofits even as the government imposes excessive taxes that go to corruption and wasteful spending.
But nothing compares to the Marcos regime’s canine loyalty to his US masters. Marcos remains silent over the acts of aggression and other atrocities committed by the US and Israeli governments in Iran and West Asia that have disrupted the global oil supply, caused the oil price shock, devastated local economies, and displaced Filipino migrant workers. Not a single word to demand an end to these unprovoked US-led attacks.
When Iran retaliated by targeting US military bases in neighboring Gulf states, it was a stark reminder that US troops, facilities and missile systems installed across the Philippines are a magnet for attack by countries subjected to US military aggression.
But instead of dismantling these facilities, Marcos has pivoted even closer to the US by signing a Critical Minerals Deal in February then joining the US-led Pax Silica in April. Both are presented as economic investments even if the primary aim of the US is to build a weapons and ammunition hub in the so-called Luzon Economic Corridor.
In the past four years, Marcos has dragged the country closer to a US-instigated war by allowing it to use our territory as a war playground, testing site, and staging area for its military power projection in the Asia Pacific and containment strategy against China.
During his SONA, Marcos will likely spin his puppetry as an act of statesmanship by falsely claiming that the overwhelming presence of the US military on our shores acts as deterrence to China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. But the People’s SONA will underscore the detrimental impact of US militarism and domination, including the plunder of our resources, destruction of the environment, land conversion, the participation of US forces in surveillance and counterinsurgency operations, the crackdown on anti-imperialist groups and individuals, and the rabid promotion of neoliberal policies that boost the superprofits of monopoly capitalists, their local dummies, and corrupt backers in government.
Marcos is relying on US backing for political survival amid widespread discontent over the flood control scam and anomalous budget insertions. Over the past year, Marcos has diverted investigations to evade accountability and protect himself, his family and co-conspirators. He claims to be an anti-corruption crusader even though he refuses to return the ill-gotten wealth amassed by his family during the Martial Law era. Meanwhile all evidence points to him as the mastermind and principal beneficiary of the kickback delivery and pork barrel scandals.
Bayan calls on the people to counter the narrative of lies to be spewed out by Marcos in his SONA and instead denounce his puppet, fascist, corrupt and oppressive regime. We urge our people to press the demand for truth and accountability and an end to impunity. As Bayan reiterates the call for the conviction of the impeached Vice President Sara Duterte for betrayal of public trust, the People’s SONA will primarily expose and reject the US-Marcos regime for its gravest crimes against the Filipino people.
Itakwil ang papet, pahirap, korap, at pasistang Rehimeng Marcos!
Ibagsak ang imperyalismo!
Baguhin ang bulok na sistema!
Isulong ang pakikibaka para sa pambansang demokrasya!