Three American activists had themselves tied to the gates of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) base in Lumbia Airport Friday afternoon, July 29, 2016, to protest the use of the base by the Americans under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States.
The Americans — human rights lawyer Arturo Viscara, social worker Luis Patterson, and Kelsen Caldwell, leader of the Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites in Seattle, Washington— were joined by some 60 local militants when they staged a rally in Lumbia, this city.
NO ENTRY. American activists have themselves tied to the gates of the Philippine Air Force base in Lumbia airport in Cagayan de Oro Friday afternoon, July 29, 2016, to protest the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the US. The former commercial airport in Lumbia, converted in an airbase three years ago, is one of the military bases identified under EDCA to house US personnel and equipment. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO
The militants filed a petition before Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno and the City Council expressing their support for the city government’s plan to ask the national government to convert Lumbia airport into “a community of socialized houses and commercial centers.”
Under EDCA, the military base in Lumbia Airport and three other bases in the country were identified as possible sites to house US personnel on a rotation basis, and to stockpile equipment.
Before its turnover to the PAF, Lumbia was the domestic passenger terminal for Northern Mindanao before it was transferred to Laguindingan Airport three years ago.
Weldon Barros, secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Northern Mindanao said they asked why Lumbia is selected when it is more than 1,358 kilometers away from the West Philippine Sea, the potential flash point between Philippines and China.
“If the US really wants to help us, why doesn’t it establish a base at the West Philippines Sea or nearby instead? “ Barros asked.
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2016/07/activists-say-no-to-us-use-of-lumbia-airport/
This is Communist Party of the Philippines front group-sponsored anti-US/US military propaganda activity. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-New Patriotic Alliance) is the main CPP multisectoral umbrella front organization in the Philippines with chapters active throughout the country including Northern Mindanao and appears to have been behind the protest activity of sympathetic US leftists.
ReplyDeleteThis commie propaganda activity reflect a vocal but minority view in the Philippines. Most thoughtful Filipinos overwhelmingly support the RP-US military relationship as well as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
What the commies fail to mention is that Mindanao often falls victim to typhoons and other natural disasters therefore it is imperative to have a location in the region such as the airport in Lumbia where Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) supplies can be stored/stockpiled for use when they are needed and to also serve as a regional headquarters to receive/direct HADR flights as needed.