Led by the International League of Peoples’ Struggles (ILPS) and organizations under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, the International Anti-war Campaign was launchd last May 21 through a protest action in front of the US Embassy in Manila. The program was violently dispersed by police who arrested Lloyd Manango, vice president of League of Filipino Students, and Kathy Yamzon of Defend Jobs-Philippines. Their lawyers secured their release after being detained for five hours.

The campaign aims to expose and criticize US warmongering, its western imperialist allies and corporate media. The ILPS said that the massive disinformation skewed to the interests of global militarism undermines peoples’ struggles for the right to self-determination against war, occupation and other forms of imperialist intervention.

The ILPS also condemned the inter-imperialist rivalry between US-NATO and Russia which has led to gross violence and misery to the people of Ukraine. The ILPS further stated, “More wars of this kind will break out as US imperialism resorts to global militarism and war to secure profits and buffer the impacts of the current economic crisis.”

In Southeast Asia, the group pointed that US hegemony is anchored on US military dominance in the Philippines, serving as base for the defense of its strategic interests in the region. The US was one of the first foreign governments to recognize Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s election “victory.”

The event was simultaneously held in time for Biden’s visit to Asia-Pacific countries from May 20 to May 24.