Resist US’ plan to “re-occupy” the Philippines.

This was the message of progressive groups that picketed the US embassy in Manila, in time for the start of US Pres. Barack Obama’s visit to several Asia-Pacific countries including the Philippines on April 28 to 29.

Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) prevented the groups from protesting in front of the embassy along Roxas Boulevard, using truncheons, shield and water cannon to disperse the crowd.

“Obama’s visit is not a symbol of friendship, but signals the US’ plan to re-occupy the Philippines. He will meet with his puppet Aquino to push for measures that would further tighten the US’ economic, military and all-around control over the country,” said Roger Soluta, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, May First Movement) secretary-general.

The progressive groups condemned the the Framework Agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation that Presidents Benigno Aquino III and Obama will reportedly ink in time for the latter’s arrival in Manila. The said agreement allows for US armed force units to have full access to Philippine military bases and other facilities in line with their strategic “pivot to Asia” plan.

“The oft repeated rationale is that we need this agreement with the US to protect ourselves from Chinese incursions. So what Aquino is basically saying is, to protect Filipinos from the neighborhood bully, we’re inviting a rapist inside our house to do as he pleases. That is the implication of this agreement. We’re being told we’re getting a good deal but in fact we’re getting the short end of the stick,” said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan, New Patriotic Alliance).

Bayan and the other progressive groups have said that while they condemn China’s incursions into Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea, they see the new PH-US military agreement as far more dangerous and violates Philippine sovereignty.

Meanwhile, in Albay province, local government officials and Philippine and American officers announced the start of the US-PH Balikatan military exercises involving over 5,500 US and Filipino troops, including 400 American soldiers for “humanitarian and civic assistance activities”.

The 400 American soldiers are supposedly involved in “Engineering Civic Assistance Programs” in Legazpi City, Guinobatan and other towns. These programs include building two classrooms and a “6m x 9m health center” in Malobago, Guinobatan; a classroom in Mercedes, Guinobatan; a “3m x  4m comfort room” in Brgy. Pawa, Legazpi City; and repairing a school building in Brgy. Tamaoyan, Legazpi City.

Progressive groups in Albay have criticized these programs as “hypocritical” and said that the military exercises are part of the Aquino administration’s controversial and widely criticized counter-insurgency program, Oplan Bayanihan.

“There is nothing humanitarian in trampling our sovereignty as a nation. For the past decades of implementing the Balikatan Exercises, we have been continually violated and used. The Filipino people have and will not gain an ounce from these war games. This only serves the interest of the US to reboot its military presence and hold in the Philippines and other parts of Asia through large-scale deployment of US troops and establishment of its military bases,” said Joms Salvador, Gabriela secretary general.

Led by Bayan-Bicol and Ban US Troops alliance, hundreds of members of progressive groups held a caravan across Albay province to register people’s disapproval of the military exercises in their province.