‘King of corruption not welcome’: Protest greets Marcos Jr. in Vancouver

TORONTO – “Marcos layas! King of corruption not welcome!”

Filipino progressives, international solidarity groups, migrant rights and human rights organizations stage a protest outside Vancouver Art Gallery in Vancouver, British Columbia to denounce the visit of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the city.

Marcos Jr. is visiting the province from July 1 to 4, marking the first visit by a Philippine president to Canada in 11 years. According to Bayan-British Columbia, Marcos Jr.’s visit aims to further sell out the Philippines and comes amid the country’s worsening political and economic crisis.

Friend of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS) Dahlia, a Vancouver-based solidarity organization underscored the Canada Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOFVA) signed last year by the Philippines and Canada. According to FFPS Dahlia, SOVFA will only continue to result in more death and destruction in the Philippines.

“We have already begun to see the devastating consequences of this partnership. Lobbing tomahawk missiles into fishing villages, massacring innocent villagers by the dozens, destroying farmland, displacing hundreds,” they said.

Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR Vancouver) calls Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s welcome of Marcos Jr. an utter disgrace and exposes Canadian hypocrisy.

“The Canadian government speaks the language of defence, safety, and human rights all while deepening military, political, and economic partnerships with a government that is notorious for gross human rights violations and unabated corruption,” Devon of Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights added. (Photos from Bayan-BC)

The post ‘King of corruption not welcome’: Protest greets Marcos Jr. in Vancouver appeared first on Bulatlat.