Philippine Women Centre of B.C.
Statement

Creativity, Consciousness and Community Building:
Filipino Youth Engaging in Cultural Empowerment

May 26 , 2009

 
Progressive Filipino women in Canada are outraged as news of yet another rape victim by an American serviceman under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) has surfaced.

Allegedly, on the morning of April 19, 2009 a 22 year old victim known as “Vanessa” was raped in the hotel room of a US Marine. Hotel records confirm that the perpetrator was “from the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG)/Balikatan” under the VFA between the US and the Philippines.

This rape of Vanessa is yet another concrete example of the violations against women under the VFA and how it is used as a tool of imperialist aggression. The presence of US military in the Philippines threatens the territorial integrity of the ‘supposed democratic’ Philippine state. The strategic geographic value of the Philippines is critical for the US’ influence in the area. The US with the cooperation of the Philippine government are using the so-called “war on terror’ to occupy and exploit the Philippine nation and its women.

There is a urgent need to Scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows joint  military exercises between American and Filipino forces and allows US military to base anywhere in the Philippines. We should not forget that in 1991 the Filipino people’s struggle was able to force the US out of the Philippines when the US Bases’ lease was not renewed. Under the VFA, US servicemen use the Philippines as a ‘rest and relaxation’ spot and roam freely exploiting and abusing the land and the women.

We are still outraged by the acquittal of Lance Corporal Smith, A US marine who was found guilty of rape by the Supreme Court in 2006, in the Subic Rape Case of ‘Nicole’. But in March 2009 was acquitted from all charges. This is a blatant violation of human rights and it was made clear that the Philippine government’s loyalty to the US is more important that protecting Filipino women from violence and the sovereignty of the Philippines.

May 27, 2009 marks 10 years since the ratification of the Visiting Forces Agreement.

The cases of Vanessa and Nicole are clear examples of the violent nature of the VFA and how it is used as a weapon of control. The VFA is used to protect only the economic and political interests of the US not the Filipino people. It is the women and poor who have the pay the price with their lives.

It is clear that Philippine President Arroyo is more interested in keeping foreign relations close, therefore protecting the influx of overseas Filipino remittances, ultimately keeping the Philippine economy afloat.

Everyday Filipino women leave the Philippines to work abroad, Canada being amongst the top receiving source countries. Majority of the Filipino women enter Canada under the Live-In Caregiver program. The National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada is calling for the scrapping of the LCP. This feminization of labour continues the cycle of violence against women under imperialist globalization and reaps grave consequences for Filipinos in the community.

As Filipino women in Canada, we see the urgent need to scrap the VFA and Scrap the Live-in caregive program as both exploitative policies are Anti-women and violate genuine human rights, thus keeping filipino women at the margins of society.

Scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement!
Scrap Canada’s Live In Caregiver Program!
US troops out of the Philippines Now!
End US Imperialism, Military Aggression and Occupation!
Justice for all Filipino women!
Justice for all women around world!

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