In the midst of an impeachment and corruption scandal in the Philippine government, states are still signing military and trade deals with Marcos Jr.
Over the past month, Vice President Sara Duterte has stood trial for grave misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged monetary gifts to Department of Education officials, and threats to assassinate President Marcos Jr. This trial is a major win – the Filipino people have campaigned relentlessly to hold accountable all those involved in corruption and plunder of public wealth.
The desired conviction of Sara, as well as her father Rodrigo Duterte at the Hague, are the result of the tireless and dedicated work of human rights organizations and the Filipino people to get justice. However, the trial has also been weaponized by the Marcos faction to take out a rival. Marcos remains the king of corruption and plunder, and the most subservient to the US.
The countless flood control ghost projects and wider corruption exposed in the last year has heavily implicated Marcos and his dynasty and allies in theft of the public funds.
The impeachment is the latest dramatic battle between the once allied Marcos and Duterte factions. The inter-ruling class rivalry threatens to plunge the country into a political crisis. The Philippines has long been plagued by feuding political dynasties.
At the same time, more and more countries are following the US in investing and making deals with the Philippine government.
Shouldn’t the known corruption and clear incompetence of the regime cause alarm to foreign states?
The instability that results from this clash of clans should make foreign governments think twice before entering the fray.
But the US and its allies have continued to invest in and partner with the Marcos Jr regime this year. These partnerships include trade deals, military support and visiting forces agreements, and the Pax Silica agreement.
The interest of these governments is not to support democracy or good governance. The number one priority of the US and its allies is to maintain economic and political security in the world, in the interest of big corporations and investors.
At this time, the people of the world must come together to call for an end to support of the Marcos Jr regime and an end to imperialist control of the country.
The Kapit Bisig Conference held this September 25-27 in Toronto will bring together the global solidarity movement for the Filipino people and support them in their struggle for accountability and justice, and for genuine sovereignty.
