Solidarity message on Independence Day

Solidarity message on Independence Day

Former SC Justice Antonio Carpio

Magandang Araw ng Kalayaan sa inyong lahat.

This Independence Day is a good day to assess honestly if we as a people have safeguarded and protected our independence as a sovereign state.

Pres. Duterte has stated that he will align the Philippines with the ideological flow of China. He stated that China, Russia, and the Philippines can form an alliance against the rest of the world. This is not how an independent state should act.

This is how a satellite state acts. By aligning the Philippines with the ideological flow of China, Pres. Duterte is making the Philippines a satellite of China. By forming an alliance with China and Russia against the rest of the world, Pres.
Duterte is joining the authoritarian states against the liberal democracies of the world.

Pres. Duterte said that China is in possession of the West Philippine Sea. The president said that the arbitral award is a scrap of paper that should be thrown into the waste basket. The president said that Chinese fishermen can fish in our exclusive economic zone despite the command of the Constitution to reserve the use and enjoyment of our exclusive economic zone for Filipino citizens only. The president has conceded our maritime zones and our natural resources to China because he is afraid of war with China. In short, the president’s policy is to appease China at the expense of the nation’s maritime zones and natural resources. This is not how an independent sovereign state should act. This is how as vassal state acts.
On this our Independence Day, we, the Filipino people should vow to assert our sovereign independence and oppose any vassalage to, or appeasement of, any foreign power.

We must protect our territorial integrity and maritime areas against foreign invasion. We must not allow our national leaders to give away any part of our national territory or maritime entitlements.

This moment in our history requires every patriotic Filipino to oppose vigorously the defeatist and appeasement policies of Pres. Duterte—policies that gravely prejudice our sovereign independence, sovereign territory, and sovereign rights. This day is a reminder to all patriotic Filipinos that Independence Day means renewing our vow to safeguard our territory and maritime zones from foreign invasion.

Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay tayong lahat!

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Solidarity message of former SC Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio for the June 12 Independence Day actions to defend the West Philippine Sea