As the Philippines commemorates the 121st year since the first and largest battle of the Philippine-American War which started in February 4, 1899, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines honors all the fallen Filipino heroes and demands justice for victims of US wars of aggression.

Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos died during the historic Filipino-American war in pursuit of our national sovereignty, more died thereafter as the US maintained its stronghold on our territories and its domination over our politics and economy. Since Spain slyly sold the Philippines to the US in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, US has terrorized our peoples and seized our lands and resources. Meanwhile, Filipinos who have struggled for genuine liberation of our nation were branded as insurgents by the imperialist US. To this day, the Philippine government’s counter insurgency programs and policies puppet that of the US government.

US domination over the Philippines remains through various lopsided agreements, such as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and other military treaties that granted the former free and unlimited access to our territories to serve as their military bases. Human rights violations (HRVs) run rampant where American soldiers are, aggravated by the impunity that is guaranteed by said agreements. More known cases include the subic rape case committed by US Marine Daniel Smith and the rape and murder of Jennifer Laude by US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton. Lesser known but equally grave cases of abuses and HRVs include those committed under the Philippines’ counterinsurgency programs which follow the dictates of and are supplemented by the US government. Toiling masses suffered terribly through massive displacement, harassment, and murder in the hands of these soldiers and our own whom they have trained.

For true justice to come to the brave heroes of the Philippine-American war of 1899, the Philippines must hold the US government accountable for its crimes against all Filipinos through the years. The denial of justice for some is the denial of justice for all. All unequal relations of the Philippine government with the US must finally be severed. The VFA and other lopsided treaties and agreements with the US must immediately be abrogated. Justice for all the victims of US wars of aggression! Justice for all the victims of the terrorist government of the USA!

To truly honor the fallen, we must continue the fight for genuine liberation and for social justice. We will persist in the struggle for national sovereignty and for just peace.

Down with US imperialism! (Alliance of Concerned Teachers)