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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Philippines must shun Trump's 'Board of Peace', says Makabayan

Philippines must shun Trump's 'Board of Peace', says Makabayan

Published Feb 6, 2026 12:41 pm

At A Glance

  • The militant Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is calling on the Philippine government to reject any invitation to join United States (US) President Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" for Gaza.
US President Donald Trump (Facebook)
US President Donald Trump (Facebook)


The militant Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is calling on the Philippine government to reject any invitation to join United States (US) President Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" for Gaza.
Militant solons ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co do not believe that the movement is about peace.
"This initiative is not about peace—it is a mechanism to legitimize US occupation of Gaza, enable profiteering from reconstruction, and bypass the United Nations (UN) in favor of a US-dominated framework that serves imperialist interests," they said.
"Trump's Board of Peace is a transparent scheme to profit from the destruction that US bombs and US-backed Israeli aggression have inflicted on Gaza," they claimed.
"The Philippines must not be complicit in the illegal occupation of Gaza. Joining the Board of Peace would make the Philippines an accomplice to US imperialism and Israeli occupation, aligning our country with war criminals and profiteers instead of with the oppressed Palestinian people fighting for freedom and survival," the bloc said.
The trio claimed that the US and Israel were responsible for the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. US-supplied weapons destroyed homes, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, they noted.
"Now, the US seeks to profit from reconstruction while maintaining control over Palestinian land and resources. The composition of the Board's executive committee exposes its true nature."
They also cited a worrisome omission in the Board of Peace charter.
"The Board of Peace charter does not mention Gaza once in its 11-page document. Instead, it proposes a sweeping mandate for a new international organization that seeks to bypass and replace the [UN]. Trump himself serves as chairman with veto power over all key decisions. This is not multilateralism—this is US unilateralism dressed up as international cooperation," they said.
They noted that several countries—including France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Slovenia—have already rejected invitations, recognizing that the Board dangerously interferes with the broader international order and undermines the UN.
"The Philippines should follow their example and refuse to participate in this imperialist scheme," the militant solons said.
"The Makabayan bloc reiterates its solidarity with the Palestinian people and calls for an end to US military aid to Israel, an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, and accountability for all those responsible for genocide and war crimes in Gaza. The reconstruction of Gaza must be led by Palestinians, funded without conditions, and free from foreign occupation and exploitation," they added.
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