Press Release
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
May 24, 2024
The
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today condemned the second
series of the Cope Thunder-24, war games between the Philippine Air
Force (PAF) and the US Air Force, slated for June 17-28. The schedule of
the war games, set to be held at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca,
Pampanga and Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, was announced by PAF Col.
Ma. Consuelo Castillo last May 22.
"These
war games must be condemned as aerial terrorism as these further
promote the continuing campaign of aerial bombing across the country
which has terrorized hundreds of thousands of people across the past
years," said CPP Chief Information Officer Marco L. Valbuena. "The war
games only fuel the Filipino people's growing animosity for the US
forces and the AFP for normalizing aerial terrorism."
The
CPP official further said these joint exercises are being carried out
with outright contempt for the country's sovereignty. "The presence of
US troops, jet fighters, naval vessels and other weapons further drag
the country into the US imperialist conflict with China."
"The
upcoming war exercises Cope Thunder, coming at the heels of the recent
large-scale Balikatan war games, puts a clear target on the country, in
case an open armed conflict between the US and China breaks out," added
Valbuena.
"Amid worsening and
growing poverty, it is grossly obscene considering that Marcos will
squander billions of pesos from public funds for the said 10-day event,"
Valbuena pointed out. He insisted that public funds should instead be
spent to aide the Filipino peasantry and the rural population severely
affected by the dry season amid the El Niño phenomenon and for
comprehensive preparation in the face of impending La Niña.
PAF's
Col. Castillo earlier announced that an estimated 900 PAF personnel and
25 US Pacific Air Forces personnel will participate in the upcoming
Cope Thunder war games.
The first
part of the said wargames last April 8-19 saw the participation of 250
US airmen and 12 US aircraft. Residents of Gattaran, Sto Niño, and Lasam
in Cagayan said low-flying jet fighters caused mayhem in schools
especially in daycare centers and kindergarten schools sending children
scampering back to their homes. Infants were also awakened, livelihoods
were disrupted, and even domestic animals were frightened and
distressed.
Residents complained
that they were not informed in advance, causing people to run and
stumble in extreme fear since the exhibitions were staged right near
schools and barangay halls. A mother said her 7-year-old son prevented
her from leaving the house fearing she would be hit by a bomb. They also
complained about the extremely loud rumble and deafening noise of jet
fighters. “My chest felt like it was going to explode when it passed
over us,” said one.
The Cope Thunder war games was revived in 2023 with the push of the Marcos regime since its termination in 1990.
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