By Viggo Sarmago*Bulatlat.com*

MANILA — Environmental groups and other organizations marched toward the US Embassy on Earth Day, denouncing the Marcos Jr. administration for joining the United States’ “Pax Silica” initiative, and holding the US and Israel accountable for the broader environmental and social consequences brought by their military aggression in West Asia.

For progressive groups, the Pax Silica would make the Philippines a source of raw materials for the US war production, which includes drones and missiles with advanced AI.

Read: Pax Silica initiative seen as war production, environment destruction

The Computer Professionals’ Union (CPU) proclaimed that only foreign powers will benefit from the initiative, citing that it prevents the rise of domestic industries and worsen brain drain, where skilled professionals leave the country for better opportunities.

“The expertise of Filipino IT professionals should be directed towards projects that can actually uplift and improve Filipino lives like high-tech nationalized manufacturing, better health care or improving access to basic technology and closing the digital divide,” the group said.

The protesters also slammed the critical minerals cooperation agreement with the US signed by Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla back in February 4, 2026, warning that it will further cause environmental destruction and human rights violations in the Philippines and will intensify the the administration’s renewable energy boom, deforesting mountains, poisoning rivers and displacing environmental defenders and Indigenous peoples.

Read: PH, US ink critical minerals deal bodies ill for the environment, defenders–groups

In a symbolic action, the protesters hit the caricatures of Marcos Jr., Donald Trump, and Benjamin Netanyahu, and ripping American flags spray painting them “#1 Terrorist” and “Climate polluter.” (RVO)

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