7 Nobyembre,2024 Huwebes
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
PM for any hospital discharge problem
Happy Birthday Rosita Belmonte-Jose more birthdays to come
Happy Birthday Jo Ephraim Lopez more birthdays to come
Deepest sympathy to the family of the late Jocelyn “Jo” Lising-Abelgas
Elections festival of democracy
By J.Lo
“As friends, partners and allies, we hold each other accountable to live up to our highest democratic ideals, including maybe especially during elections,” US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said as results of America’s vote came in, called elections on Tuesday festival of American democratic process where voting is privilege, but also comes with obligations.
“Our systems of government, though far from perfect, strive to enshrine rule of law and protect equality and dignity of all people one person, one vote at a time…as Abraham Lincoln said, ‘Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people,’ ” she said.
She noted that when political parties compete freely on level playing field, when voters’ rights are respected and when election outcomes are upheld with peaceful transition of power, “societies are more prosperous and secure.”
“And if governments fall short, voters can vote the other way next time… that’s power of democratic elections,” she stressed.
With relations on very strong footing, Philippines and United States will remain “steadfast” friends and “ironclad” allies whoever wins presidential elections, Carlson said.
“In my 39 years in State Department, I have witnessed transitions from Republican to Democrat to Republican and back and forth… we will remain steadfast friends and ironclad allies as well as partners in prosperity no matter who wins election in the United States today,” Carlson told reporters at presidential election watch party organized by US embassy in Manila.
Relationship between two countries, she said, has “stood test of time for decades.”
“I’m highly confident that whoever wins presidential elections, US-Philippine relations are on very strong footing,” she added.
Carlson said both Democrats and Republicans in US Congress enthusiastically support US-Philippine alliances and military financing for Philippines, noting that the country has very strong bipartisan support in US.
US announced in July $500-million military aid for the Philippines, highlighting support for enhancing capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard to effectively fulfill their territorial defense mission.
Military funding was announced by US Department of Defense to bolster defenses of its oldest treaty ally in Asia.
Philippines has ramped up its military ties with US and allowed greater US access to local military bases, which angered China.
Defense Department said expanding US rotational access by designating four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites at strategic locations across the Philippines is one of the historic achievements alongside its ally to make US force posture in Indo-Pacific more mobile, distributed and resilient.
Meanwhile, projected win of Donald Trump as next US president should concern Filipinos, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said.
“Filipinos must be wary of the fact that unequal agreements with the US will likely remain and our country will continue to be used for US hegemonic interests and war provocations,” Bayan president Renato Reyes said in a statement.
Reyes fears Trump win will not mean end to US wars and conflicts overseas, noting his impending presidency will be met with new wave of protests to end genocide in Gaza.
“Our militant solidarity goes out to the working class and progressive movements in the US who will now contend with return of fascist Trump regime,” he added.
Reyes said Trump harped on anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric while giving people populist sound bites throughout his campaign.
Straight out of the fascist playbook, group leader added Trump capitalized on people’s fear in period of economic crisis and uncertainty.
ISKUP! 