Cops block protesters who tried to head near US embassy

Around 100 protesters clashed briefly with police forces as they tried to head near the United States embassy in Manila on Friday afternoon.

Policemen armed with truncheons and shields blocked protesters trying to protest near the embassy ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in Manila next week.

Chanting “Junk junk VFA!” and “Junk junk Apec,” the protesters pushed backed the police in trying to get near the embassy.

But the anti-riot police augmented its forces to block the activists. No arrests were made and no one was injured in the scuffle.

The protesters, composed of university students, said the upcoming Apec meet would only worsen the state of Philippine education.

“Apec’s globalization agenda worsened the education crisis in the Philippines. Because of privatization and deregulation of education, tuition rates soared, drop-outs increased and education has been further reoriented to serve big foreign capital,” Vencer Crisostomo, national chair of Anakbayan, said.

Crisostomo also called on the government to junk the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which increased US militry presence in the country.

He said VFA and Edca put the country’s sovereignity at stake.

Crisostomo also assailed the Apec’s agenda of allowing foreign businesses in the country, which he said would only benefit foreign companies businessmen and not ordinary Filipinos.

The protesters peacefully dispersed after the rally but vowed to conduct bigger protests next week as leaders from Apec member economies meet in Manila next week.