I would vote 203 million times “NO”

By Jovito R. Salonga
Former Senate President &
Former Liberal Party President

Today, we have finally summoned the political will to stand up and end 470 years of foreign military presence here in the Philippines. To be sure, this decision is not without its cost. There will be temporary dislocation and hardships all around, especially in Central Luzon. But we should learn the lesson we should have learned long ago—namely, no nation can become truly free without sacrifice. The trouble with some of us is we want freedom and independence without sweat and without tears. But there is no other way.

"Salamat na lamang at hindi na tayo nagdaan ngayon sa isyung ito sa isang malupit at maduging digmaan. Ang sabi ng ating mga kaibigan—“Kayo po naman ay hindi nakadanas ng paghihirap. Maawa namankayo sa amin na nawalan ng trabaho.” ("I am grateful that we did not have to tackle this issue in abitter and bloody manner. Our friends who work in the bases told me—“You have never known poverty. Please have pity on us who will lose our jobs.”)

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