Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

JPEPA Economic Invasion:

Posted on February 9, 2008

Who Among The Senators Will Be The Collaborators?

NO DEAL! PRESS STATEMENT

No Deal!, a coalition of organizations and individuals opposing the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), said that the treaty symbolizes the “second invasion” of the country by Japan, and that senators may choose to be patriots or collaborators in this invasion when they vote on the controversial agreement.

“This invasion could prove to be even more destructive on the economy and people’s livelihood than the Japanese assault during World War II,” No Deal! spokesperson Arnold Padilla said. “So we ask our senators, will they collaborate with the aggressors and participate in the rape of our economic sovereignty and patrimony? Or will they choose to be patriots and fight till the end to defend the national interest?”

The anti-JPEPA coalition noted that the treaty is part of Japan’s grand design to establish a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in East Asia (CEPEA). Japan’s motives in the JPEPA are still essentially the same with its agenda when it invaded countries, including the Philippines, more than six decades ago. Before, they wanted to set up the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere, said the group.

No Deal! warned senators that history has not been kind to traitors and collaborators. It cited Jose P. Laurel, who chose to collaborate with the Japanese during World War II, and is known in history as the puppet president of Japan. On the other hand, Jose Abad Santos is regarded in history as a true patriot for choosing to be executed by the Japanese imperial army instead of pledging allegiance to the invaders. “We celebrate and build monuments for our heroes and only have scorn for traitors,” Padilla said.

Senate insiders told No Deal! that the committee report on the JPEPA, prepared by the committees on foreign relations and the trade and commerce, is “almost done” and might be circulated next week. Senator Miriam Santiago, chair of the foreign relations committee, is expected to endorse the report and call for the ratification of the treaty.

“We have been holding bilateral talks with senators through various channels to convince them to say ‘no deal’ to the JPEPA. Our latest count is that five to six senators will likely vote against the treaty,” said Padilla. They include Senators Jamby Madrigal, Nene Pimentel, Manny Villar, Pia Cayetano, Noynoy Aquino, and Chiz Escudero. “We will closely monitor the senators’ position and public statements regarding the deal, as well as report the results of our dialogue with them to the public so that the people will know who will betray the country and who will defend it,” he added. (end)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme