AS the country celebrated its 123rd Independence Day, several youth groups denounced what it called President Duterte’s refusal to defend the Philippines’ rights in the West Philippine Sea.

College Editors Guild of the Philippines said Duterte betrayed the Filipinos by continuously bowing down to China’s interests.

“Duterte has repeatedly stabbed the Filipinos in the back by going against the country’s will and forcing an alliance with China in which the country did not even ask for,” CEGP said in a statement.

“We strongly denounce the blatant attacks of China against Philippine sovereignty. Its looming imperialist aggression must be stopped because it is the Filipino people who bravely face the consequences of their inhumane policies,” it added.

The League of the Filipino Students, on the other hand, lambasted the failure of the government to secure the sovereignty of the country.

“Sa loob ng limang taon, pasakit si Duterte. Isa siyang kawing sa sambayanang Filipino at wala siyang ginawa kundi ibenta ang ating teritoryo, ang ating ekonomiya, at ating soberanya — habang ang mamamayan ay nagmamakaawa at walang makuhang

ayuda lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya,” LFS said.

For its part, the National Union of Students of the Philippines urged youth organizations to have a united stand on country’s culture, identity and supremacy.

“Tinawagan ng Union ang lahat ng mga konseho ng mga mag-aaral sa bansa na makiisa sa laban sa pag-gigiit ng ating pambasang soberanya at ating sariling pagkakakilanlan. Palayasin ang Tsina. Ikondena ang kanilang pambabalasubas sa ating likas na yaman,” NUSP said.