Manila (Philippines), November 9 (askanews) – Dozens of protesters, mostly women, took to the streets of Manila to protest US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the Philippines for the ASEAN summit, which will be held there from November 15 to 17. Demonstrators held signs reading "Trump Out" and denounced agreements between the United States and the Philippines, which they believe do not protect the country's interests. The US-led "Pax Silica" initiative, which the Philippines joined months ago and aims to strengthen international supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, and other advanced technologies, was particularly targeted.
Many women also took to the streets: their protest was organized by the women's group Gabriela, which carried anti-Trump messages such as "Stop the rapes of our homeland!" and "Kick Trump out of the Philippines!" In addition to condemning Pax Silica, the women claimed that Trump is a "macho fascist and a war criminal" who has "presided over and escalated wars that have caused countless civilian casualties, including children in Palestine and elsewhere." "We, who represent women, cannot afford to welcome him; there will be no red carpet," the group said, lamenting that "what is being packaged as a 'partnership' is the conversion of the Philippines into a militarized industrial enclave and a source of ancestral lands and cheap labor for US companies."
Askanews