Cause-oriented groups decried as being “too extravagant, and outrageous” the reported trip to the United States of Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her entourage of 59 congressmen. The trip coincided with a devastating storm that ravaged the Philippine countryside. “In a time of severe economic crisis and calamities, government must take the lead in practicing austerity. What we are seeing with the Arroyo administration is the exact opposite. Having 59 congressmen, one senator and 10 cabinet secretaries on a foreign trip doesn’t do the country any good. If anything, it is the height of insensitivity,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“When you think of how poor people are being squeeze by the Value Added Tax while government officials can take junkets just like that, you just feel outraged. Just how many of these congressmen actually plan to stay in the US to watch the Pacquiao fight on June 28? How many are planning to come home immediately to attend to their constituents?” he added.
Bayan had earlier criticized Arroyo’s US trip saying that it would not result into anything beneficial for the people. The group said that the trip would boost unequal bilateral relations between the US and the Philippines.
“There seems to be something with meeting American officials that makes Philippine officials giddy. Philippine officials have made US relations a priority over national interests,” Reyes said.
“Philippine officials probably want to be seen in Washington, hobnobbing with ranking American officials. This is classic colonial thinking, the kind that translates into foreign policies such as allowing American troops to intervene in our domestic affairs and allowing American corporations to plunder our country’s resources,” Reyes said.
Malacañang has said that the kidnapping of Philippine journalist Ces Drilon would be part of the agenda ofArroyo’s meeting with Bush. The two leaders are set to talk on security concerns in the region.
“As expected, the Drilon kidnapping would be used to provide the ‘context’ of increased RP-US anti-terror cooperation. This would mean greater military aid for the AFP and more US troops entering Philippine soil. Sovereignty would again be compromised in the name of fighting terror. Funding for the AFP would be increased despite the widespread human rights violations it has yet to account for.
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