A LAWMAKER has branded the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) summit as a gathering that seeks to worsen the exploitation of the poor.
“The neo-liberal pillars of Asean, such as deregulation, privatization and deregulation are historically proven to throw Filipino poor to inescapable cycle of poverty and misery," Anakpawis partylist Representative Ariel Casilao in a statement on Sunday said.
Philippines is this year's host for the Asean summit. Several world leaders, including key allies of the Asean are arriving as of press time to attend activities that will be held in the country this week.
Casilao criticized Duterte for now serving up the United States President Donald Trump.
Duterte previously badmouthed the US President for his supposed continued intervention in the country.
“Duterte had the gall to cite ‘historical injustice’ committed by the US against the Moro people, and its continued intervention in the country, but now is serving as the head lackey of US imperialism in the country,” Casilao said.
The lawmaker further criticized Duterte for backing up the US aggression against North Korea, and for allowing the continued implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, created by President Benigno Aquino during his stint.
“While the South Korean people are opposing war threats against the north and demanding peace in the region, here is the president of the Philippines who could not even commit to peace in his own country, allowing the country as a launching pad of US aggression and putting the Filipino population to the danger of nuclear obliteration,” Casilao said.
He said Duterte has fully transformed from a sensitive leader to a "national lackey" of the US and the "hacienderos" and "cobradors" in the country.
He further lamented the President's decision to allot P15.5-billion budget for the Asean event, imposing a three-day holiday without pay while many of poor Filipinos are starving. (SunStar Philippines)