US Vice President Kamala Harris came and went, and the Philippines did not become any better because of it.
It was very frustrating to see photos of our Coast Guard and other military servicemen being made to endure a humiliating security check by US Secret Service before boarding our own maritime vessel which the foreign VP will inspect.
Imagine the temerity to do that on our own shores?!!!
She is the second-highest official of a superpower, but that does not give the Americans dominion over us. Our government should not have allowed this and should have been the one to dictate the terms of the visit.
Would the US have dared treat us this way under PRRD?
America needs us more than we need them. They may be the superpower but then again, they are not the only ones. We are better off being friends with not one, but with all of them.
America is an ally only when it clearly serves her interest.
Take for instance how PRRD's spokesperson Harry Roque, who is also an international law expert, revealed how the US strong-armed us with the vaccine supply in exchange for the pardon of US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, the convicted murderer of Filipina transgender Jennifer Laude.
There was no outright goodwill extended by Uncle Sam when they agreed to supply us with the needed Covid-19 vaccine, including bullying us to surrender a felon to their custody.
The same modus operandi of vaccines being used to get the Philippines to capitulate was reportedly used against Latin American nations, in exchange for concessions like military bases and immunities.
During the Vietnam War, then-US President Lyndon Johnson tried to force President Ferdinand Marcos Sr into sending troops to Vietnam to fight alongside American soldiers.
But PFEM did not blink, and instead maneuvered the exchange so he could send Army engineers instead of soldiers. Therefore, Marcos kept his end of the deal and managed to avoid a situation where Asians will harm each other. Instead, he helped rebuild, not destroy Vietnam, according to former Senator Francisco Tatad, who was the younger minister during Marcos Sr.'s Presidency.
These are clear cases of underhanded American tactics disguised as beneficial exchanges, and portraying itself as the dependable Uncle Sam. We have to be wary. We need not succumb to this machination with the fear of isolation or abandonment.
The reality is that our sovereignty is already being violated by America, and if we allow this to continue, no other country will respect us. Again, it's all about preservation and national interest. At the end of the day, we need to protect and uphold our very own. America be damned!
Mark my word.
