A statement from our Malaya Tacoma chapter on the killing of Kai Sorem

Malaya Tacoma strongly condemns the blatant violations of international humanitarian law conducted by the US-Backed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Negros Occidental on April 19-20, 2026. For 12 hours straight, they carried out an operation of strafing that killed 19 people and displaced 653 residents.

Beloved Filipino American Kai Dana Rene Sorem was among the 19 who lost their lives in the massacre.

Last week, Malaya Movement chapters across the country commemorated the 40th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power that toppled fascist dictator, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Listen to Nonoy’s experience as a trade union organizer under Marcos Sr’s brutal martial law. Like thousands of other civilian activists, Nonoy was detained and tortured by government forces. 

This year we celebrate the 40th year anniversary of EDSA People Power, the movement that ousted the Marcos Sr. dictatorship after years of unchecked crimes, human rights violations, and corruption.

Millions came together to demand justice and accountability from his crooked regime and we, as freedom loving Filipinos, must continue this legacy today.

Trump recently invited Marcos to join his so-called “Board of Peace” to oversee the neo-colonial reconstruction of Gaza. This "Board of Peace" is nothing but an absurd fascist dictatorship on an international scale, where Trump is dubbed "Chairman for life" and has granted himself sole decision making power. Any self-respecting and sane world leader would flatly decline the invitation as it is a public admission of support for the US-backed Zionist genocide of Palestinians.

Malaya Movement condemns the increase of U.S. militarism in the Philippines and the continued collaboration of the fascist Marcos and Trump regimes, which will further endanger Filipinos as the U.S. ramps up its conflict with China. In early January 2026, the U.S. revealed its new Army Rotational Force-Philippines, which has already been covertly operating since July 2025, further stepping up its military presence in the country under the guise of protecting the region from "Chinese coercion".

Calling a valid impeachment process a "distraction" speaks volumes about BBM's respect for actual democracy. It's like deja vu from Sara's impeachment last year. These separate impeachment attempts against the president and the vice president show a clear divide in Congress: the House of Reps behind Marcos while Sara maintains strong support in the Senate and the Supreme Court - all unwilling and incapable of actually upholding democracy.