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