The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and allied organizations protested for the end of the Balikatan exercises due to alleged military violence caused by such activities.

In a rally held in front of Camp Aguinaldo on Monday, Bayan asserted that the Balikatan Exercises were ‘costly, disruptive to the local population, and a threat to national security, aside from undermining the country’s sovereignty.’

“During Balikatan activities, fishers are prevented from sailing near the area of the maritime exercises and farmers and residents are barred from lands near the camps. Indigenous people are harmed by the violence of the military and the Imperialist United States,” Mong Palatino, Bayan secretary-general said.

Bayan said the Balikatan served no useful purpose other than to advance the geopolitical interests of the United States.

“The imperialist that has done nothing but spread its wealth and remove our sovereignty should fall. The United States is cunning, twisting the patriotic awareness of the Filipino youth instead of addressing our issues with China, instead of addressing the fight in the West Philippine Sea through peaceful and diplomatic ways,” said Kej Andres, Kabataan Partylist 7th nominee.

The 40th Balikatan exercises, a bilateral defense drill between the Philippines and United States, are ongoing in various parts of the country until May 9, with various countries such as Japan, Australia, and Canada taking part in the training as observers and active participants. Yzabela Velez-White/DMS