Activists protest PH-U.S. Balikatan exercises by burning American flag, throwing paint at U.S. Embassy seal

ABS-CBNNews.com reports that members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) staged a lightning rally in front of the US Embassy in Manila before 6 a.m. on Monday, April 16.

To express their displeasure over the Philippines-US Balikatan exercises, the protesters threw red and blue paint at the seal of the embassy and burned an American flag. The ABS-CBNNews.com report revealed that they also spray-painted the gates of the embassy these messages: "US troops out now" and "Junk VFA! (Visiting Forces Agreement)." The report noted that after about 20 minutes, the protesters were "driven away by the police."

Meanwhile, Philstar.com reports that the Balikatan exercises will be held simultaneously in different parts of the country from April 16 to 27. The report pointed out: "About 4,500 U.S. personnel and 2,300 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines will join the activity."

For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and Philstar.com.