Rights groups slam US ‘deterrence’ policy as Marcos flies to meet Trump

A human rights coalition on Sunday denounced the upcoming bilateral talks between President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and US President Donald Trump, saying it represents the Philippines’ “subservience” to Washington and supports the “peace through deterrence" strategy.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) made the remarks as it called for an end to the “increasing” US militarization in the country, warning it may “bring more war and destruction to the Filipino people” and may “further plunge the most marginalized in Philippines society into poverty”. 

“The US military build-up in the Philippines is not defensive nor geared towards peace, but aggressive war preparations that put the Filipino people at risk to be collateral damage in a war with China. The Filipino people don’t want to be a battlefield for a great power war,” said ICHRP chairperson Peter Murphy.

“ICHRP urges all nations in the region to deescalate the frightening military buildup towards war,” he added. 

Marcos departed for Washington. D.C. on Sunday an official visit which includes a meeting with Trump. He said his visit aims to push for “greater economic engagement” and to reaffirm the Philippine’s “commitment to fostering our long-standing alliances as an instrument of peace and a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.”

The President's aircraft left Manila at 10:20 a.m.

Among the topics Marcos and Trump will discuss is the steep 20% tariff on Filipino goods entering the US, as Manila hopes to strike a mutually acceptable and beneficial tariff deal with the US.

“The imposition of tariffs, the maltreatment of Filipino migrants—unchallenged by Marcos Jr.—and the increasing US military presence in the Philippines will further plunge the most marginalized in Philippines society into poverty,” the ICHRP said. 

“Peace in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region will not come through the US ‘deterrence’ strategy. Genuine peace must be based on justice which necessitates the undoing of the unequal US-Philippines relationship most characterized by US economic coercion and military dominance of the country,” it added. 

Imee Marcos

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos urged her brother to “exercise caution and protect Philippine national interests” in the trade talks with Trump.

“Trade must be a partnership, not a surrender. If we give away our rights today, we sell out the future of every Filipino,” the legislator said. 

Early this month, the US government issued tariff notices to several trading partners including the Philippines, which he slapped with a 20% duty, higher than what he previously announced reciprocal tariff rate of 17% in April. 

“As a sovereign country, the tariff agreement with the US should also be reciprocal. The US does not seem to regard us as a sovereign state, nor can we see the value of any so-called treaty allies any longer,” said Marcos. 

“No president should sign away our sovereignty—not for gold, not for promises, not for alliances,” she said. 

Data from the US Trade Representative showed that the US goods trade deficit with the Philippines stood at $4.9 billion in 2024, up 21.8% from 2023.

US total goods trade with the Philippines amounted to about $23.5 billion in 2024, with American goods exports to the Philippines amounting to $9.3 billion, up 0.4%, while goods imports totaled $14.2 billion.

The US is the Philippines' top destination for its goods in 2024 at $58.7 billion, accounting for a lion’s share, or 80.2%, of the top 10 nations where it exports, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. — BM, GMA Integrated News