US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently in Manila, Philippines, to attend the foreign ministers’ summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Numerous activists staged massive protests outside the venue to oppose his visit and condemn his role regarding the conflict with Iran. Placards held by the protesters bore slogans such as “No welcome for war criminals,” “Ban Trump,” and “Ban Rubio.” Al Jazeera Online reported this news.
Human rights activist Cristina Palabay commented on the protests, stating that the United States—particularly under Donald Trump—has become a major global war criminal. She noted that the US government is known for killing civilians through bombings in various parts of the world—including Palestine, Iran, and the Philippines—where it maintains a permanent presence and operates military bases. Another protester, Mong Palatino, urged the administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cease all forms of cooperation with Rubio. He argued that this visit would lead to the establishment of more US military bases in the Philippines and result in further exploitation of the country’s natural resources. Consequently, they gathered to strongly condemn the Marcos government for aligning itself with the US administration. Representatives from China, Russia, and other partner nations are participating in this annual ASEAN summit alongside US Secretary of State Rubio.
However, the primary focus of the summit is the energy crisis and global economic instability resulting from the US-Iran conflict in the Middle East. Against this backdrop, ordinary Filipino citizens and human rights organizations are taking to the streets of Manila to voice their anger against US foreign policy.
