In regards to the Philippines hosting the 12th East Asian Summit, native Mindanaoans protested against its launching and Trump’s visit to the country.

The protesters rallied along Roxas street with banners saying, “Imperyalismo Ibagsak!”

According to Kerlan Fanagel, national council member of SANDUGO (Kilusan ng Mamamayang Moro at Katutubo), Trump’s visit and the East Asian Summit will give imperialist countries such as the US and Russia access to the Philippines.

The move will only benefit the foreign countries while taking away the remaining land and means of livelihood of the poor, especially the minorities and farmers.

“Nagahisgot sila ug naga support sila sa food security pero ang mga ASEAN nations kay hilom sila sa mga dinagko nga pagsulod sa mga trans-national corporations para i-convert ang mga yuta sa mga maguuma ngadto sa mga halapad nga plantasyon,” he said.

[ASEAN supports and talks about food security, but when it comes to significant problems such as trans-national corporations stealing and converting the lands of the farmers into wide plantations, they are silent.]

Aside from this, Fanagel shared that ASEAN is quiet when it comes to allowing destructive foreign corporations in the country.

“Naga condemn sila sa padayong illegal logging ug illegal fishing pero hilom sila sa mga operations sa mga large-scale foreign mining corporations ug operations sa mga extractive energies like coal-fired powerplants nga makadaot sa kinaiyahan,” he shared.

[ASEAN condemns illegal logging and illegal fishing, but they are silent when it comes to large-scale mining operations and extractive energies like coal-fired power plants which are harmful to the environment.]

Fanagel along with other sectors call upon President Duterte for the country’s independence.

“Ang SANDUGO inubanan sa ubang sektor karon naga panawagan nga gunitan ni President Duterte ang iyahang barog sa unom ka bulan pa siyang ni lingkod nga presidente ang iyang independent foreign policy,” he expressed.

[The SANDUGO and all the other sectors call upon President Duterte to hold onto his stand during his first six years of presidency for independent foreign policy.]