Iloilo Groups Hold Vigil vs U.S. Bombing of Iran

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By Juliane Judilla

Progressive groups held a candlelight protest at Jaro Plaza on Sunday, June 22, to denounce the recent bombing of Iran by United States forces and to call for national solidarity against what they described as U.S.-Israel aggression in the Middle East.

Led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Panay, protesters lit candles and carried placards condemning the airstrikes, which the group said have further inflamed conflict in the region.

BAYAN Panay called the attacks “imperialist aggression” and labeled the United States as “the biggest threat to humanity,” linking its military operations to what they claimed is Israel’s continuing genocide in Palestine.

“This bombing is not just an attack on Iran but a clear escalation that endangers millions of lives. It exposes the U.S. government as the mastermind behind regional instability,” the group said in a statement.

Organizers also urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to publicly condemn the U.S. strikes and renounce all forms of military cooperation with Washington.

“We challenge the Marcos Jr. government to stand with the people of Iran and Palestine and to take an independent foreign policy that serves the interest of Filipinos, not the dictates of a foreign power,” they added.

The protest also reignited long-standing opposition to the presence of U.S. troops and military installations in the Philippines.

BAYAN Panay warned that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which grants U.S. forces access to select Philippine military bases, places local communities in danger.

“We demand the immediate removal of all U.S. troops, missile systems, and facilities from our territory,” the group said.