By Junex Doronio

DESCRIBING AS “SHAMEFUL” THE PHILIPPINES’ ABSTENTION from voting on a United Nations (UN) resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian truce” in Hamas-run Gaza, national democrat coalition Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) lambasted the move and stressed that “neutrality in the time of genocide is unacceptable.”

BAYAN made the statement on the heels of reports that the Israeli strikes had now killed 7,326 people, mainly civilians and many of them children.

“Yes, the Philippine abstention is a ‘vote’ for the continued genocide in Gaza. There is no other way to describe it,” BAYAN president Renato Reyes Jr. said.

He added that BAYAN stands with the Palestinian resistance and its people’s right to self-determination.

On Saturday, the Philippines abstained from voting on a UN resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian truce” in Hamas-run Gaza.

Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, Sr. told the UN General Assembly that the Philippines is alarmed at the “state of civilian casualties” in the war between Israel and Hamas militants.

(ai/mnm)