The US government’s pledge to provide the Marcos government with $500 million in military financing will result in the unprecedented dumping of old US weapons systems into the Philippines, which would further tighten its control of the Marcos regime and the Philippine armed forces.

The objective is clear: to further bind the Philippines to the US geopolitical strategy, and use the country as a tool for war preparations and provocations. This is in line with its strategy of containing the economic and military growth of its imperialist rival China.

The “historic” pledge, 12 times greater than previous military financing to the Philippines, was made by US State Sec. Antony Blinken and US Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin during their visit today. This will secure the ties that bind the Philippines to US interests, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential elections in November. The US also extended a $500 million military financing to Taiwan, a direct affront to China.

The US makes no qualms about dictating what weapons systems the recipient country can “purchase” under its foreign military financing program. It is a way of unloading its surplus inventory of old or refurbished weapons, directly benefiting the US military industrial complex. The US also reserves the right to determine which military unit the weapons will go to, practically dictating and controlling the armed forces of the “recipient” country.

The US military pledge will boost state terrorism in the Philippines, further exacerbating the rampant human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed by the Philippine military and police forces, under the Marcos regime. This comes on top of Marcos’ planned 6% increase in the defense budget of ₱256.5 billion ($4.4 billion), which is ten times greater than what will go to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund. Marcos is intent on buying more bombs, than responding to the need to prepare for calamities.

The Party calls on the Filipino people and all their patriotic forces to reject the US plan to extend $500 million military financing to the Philippines. They must unite to demand the abrogation of the Mutual Defense Treaty and other agreements that tie the country to US interests. They must amplify their call for the dismantling of all US military bases and withdrawal of US weapons from the country.