Peace, Not War: A Call for the Welfare of OFWs and the Filipino People

Photo from DMW

Middle East Conflict Fuels Oil Price Hikes, Endangers Migrants

 

Oil companies are raising prices by over P5 per liter tomorrow due to escalating conflict in the Middle East, Partido Manggagawa (PM) calls for an immediate halt to the bombings by the United States and Israel in Iran, and a ceasefire in Gaza, in defense of the safety and welfare of Filipino migrant workers and the broader public.

 

“The world needs a war against poverty not a war of aggression by Bibi and Donald. This war is not just a distant conflict—it’s a crisis that reaches our dinner tables. As war rages on, fuel prices spike, remittances decline, and working families suffer the consequences,” said Lawrence Cusipag, one of PM’s spokespersons.

 

Over 200 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have requested return from Iran and Israel following the Department of Foreign Affairs' decision to raise the situation to Alert Level 3. Yet as they return, they face an economy plagued by low wages and rising prices.

 

The latest Israeli airstrikes on Iran have intensified regional instability and come on top of Israel’s continuing attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The United States has provided unwavering military and financial support to Israel, even vetoing multiple UN ceasefire resolutions.

 

PM emphasizes that the roots of the conflict lie in long-standing imperialist interests—particularly control over oil and other natural resources in the region. History shows this same pattern in the US invasion of Iraq and the demonization of Iran's nuclear program.

 

“The real fight is not between nations, but against poverty. War benefits only the powerful; it is the workers and the poor who pay the price,” argued Cusipag.

 

PM demands the following:

 

Guarantee decent jobs and reintegration support for returning OFWs

 

Stop US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran

 

Implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians

 

Advance peace, not war

Riders Call for De-escalation and Demilitarization of the West Philippine Sea

In a unified call for peace and freedom, hundreds of motorcycle riders participated in a "Freedom Ride" on Independence Day, urging China to abandon its illegal claims over the entire West Philippine Sea (WPS). The riders also appealed to other superpowers to cease militarizing the already tense region.

 

The "Freedom Ride," organized by Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (KAGULONG), Riders Pilipinas, and Partido Manggagawa (PM), aimed to protest China's expansive claims over the South China Sea (SCS) and the WPS. The event also sought to promote peace amid escalating tensions between global powers.

 

Motorcycle riders from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales converged at their respective meeting points before heading to the beach area facing the West Philippine Sea in Candelaria, Zambales.

 

"We do not want the conflict in the West Philippine Sea to escalate into a war due to territorial disputes and geopolitical tensions between powerful nations. We seek freedom, justice, and peace in the area for Filipinos and neighboring countries with territorial claims in these waters," stated KAGULONG Secretary General Don Pangan.

 

KAGULONG emphasized that demilitarization is crucial for easing tensions and preventing conflict in these waters. However, China, the US, and other military powers like France, the UK, Australia, and Japan must commit to this effort to avoid military confrontations.

 

"Both China and the US-led military alliance should withdraw and refrain from militarizing these waters to allow our fishermen the freedom to fish, enable the Philippines to protect its sovereignty, and develop its exclusive economic zones independently, without bowing to foreign powers, whether they are new or former colonizers," added Pangan.

 

The group stressed the importance of transforming the region into a zone of peace and neutrality, rather than a battleground for superpowers.

 

KAGULONG President Robert Perillo explained that many motorcycle riders are engaged in delivery services, transporting both foreign and local products. Any disruption in trade, such as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, affects them due to high fuel prices and economic instability.

 

Partido Manggagawa reminded the public of the Philippines' historical involvement in global wars, such as the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II, due to its colonization by Spain and the US, and occupation by Japan.

 

"War is a lose-lose proposition. Peace is easier for Filipinos to achieve than getting trapped into a war not of its own making," stated PM.

Kagulong

June 12, 2024