ACT Teachers Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio marked Araw ng Kagitingan by urging Filipinos to remember April 9, 1942 not only as a story of heroism, but as a hard lesson on surrender and imperial abandonment—especially as the Marcos Jr administration expands joint war drills with the United States in Luzon.
“This day should remind us that April 9 marks surrender and abandonment—proof that an imperial power will always sacrifice a colony when its own priorities shift,” Tinio said. He noted that while the sacrifice of Filipino soldiers and civilians must be honored, the day should also “unmask the myth” that the US alliance is synonymous with protection.
Tinio said the lesson of Bataan echoes in today’s headlines, pointing to the recent US-Israel war against Iran and the ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after weeks of “shock and awe,” mass displacement, and economic disruption—including oil price spikes that have rippled worldwide.
“In the Middle East, we saw again how the US treats ‘frontline states’ and host countries—as expendable. When retaliation comes, Washington prioritizes its own interests and leaves others to absorb the consequences,” Tinio said, citing reports that key host states faced heightened risk as Iran retaliated against US forces and bases in the region.
Against this backdrop, Tinio warned that the Philippines is being pulled deeper into US strategic operations through the largest-ever Salaknib exercises and the ongoing Cope Thunder air drills, which include high-end simulated engagements and expanded participation by other US allies.
“Marcos Jr is gambling with our people’s lives by turning the Philippines into a US forward base. If war erupts, we will not be protected—we will be used,” Tinio said.
He stressed that the administration’s intensified military integration with Washington does not address the country’s most urgent security concerns—starting with protecting sovereignty and securing people’s welfare.
“The ‘alliance’ has not stopped China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea. It has only deepened foreign military access and dragged us closer to confrontation,” Tinio said. He added that despite constant talk of deterrence, the Philippines remains unable to fully benefit from potential energy resources in its own maritime zones, while Filipinos suffer the impact of global fuel shocks.
Tinio called for a clear shift toward an independent foreign policy that prioritizes the Filipino people’s safety and economic needs, not foreign military agendas.
“Dapat igiit ang nagsasariling patakarang panlabas at alisin ang presensyang militar ng US sa pamamagitan ng pagbasura sa Mutual Defense Treaty, VFA, at EDCA. hindi dapat isinusugal ang buhay at kabuhayan ng mamamayan para sa interes ng mga dayuhan,” Tinio said.
He concluded by urging the government to end policies that place the country on the frontlines of great-power rivalry.
“Paalala ang Abril 9 na hindi awtomatikong proteksiyon ang tinatawag na ‘alyansa’—iniwan noon ang Pilipinas sa oras ng pinakamalaking panganib, matapos gamitin bilang kolonya at baseng militar,” Tinio said. “Nakakabahala ang pagpapalaki ng Salaknib at Cope Thunder habang umiinit ang mga digmaan sa ibang rehiyon; ginagawa tayong forward base at ‘frontline state’ sa planong gera ng ibang bansa.”#
