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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filipino protest leader Piya Malayao, center, one of those injured when a policeman rammed a van on demonstrators during a recent rally outside the U.S. Embassy, uses crutches to aid her in walking towards the Malacanang palace to deliver a letter to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila today.
MANILA >> Hundreds of Filipinos protesting outside the presidential palace burned a mock U.S. flag and asked President Rodrigo Duterte to punish police officers for brutally dispersing an anti-U.S. rally and ramming a van into some of the activists.
About 1,000 left-wing protesters, carrying placards that read “U.S. troops out now” marched 1.8 miles to the presidential palace in Manila to condemn the violent police action and seek justice for those injured.
Protest leader Piya Malayao, who was among those hit by the van in Wednesday’s rally at the U.S. Embassy, walked with crutches, her right leg bandaged. She and other protesters handed a letter to officials in which they asked Duterte for justice.
“That action coming from the police could have really taken a lot of lives,” Malayao said, adding the protesters would file criminal complaints against the officers. “That attack (was) really meant to kill our people.”
Police say the protesters had no rally permit and attacked officers. Nine officers have been removed from their posts, including the van driver, while a police investigation is conducted. The driver, Franklin Kho, told reporters he did not deliberately hit the protesters but was trying to drive away because they were hitting the van and he feared they would commandeer it.
Rallies are common at the heavily-guarded seaside embassy in Manila’s tourist district, and police have wielded shields and batons against the large crowds previously. But Wednesday’s actions against more than 1,000 left-wing students, laborers and tribal people have been seen as among the most brutal in recent years. That’s largely because of the van hitting protesters, but police were also seen using a firetruck hose, lobbing tear gas and hitting people and pulling their hair.
Videos of the van hitting the protesters like bowling pins have gone viral online.
Associated Press TV footage showed the van repeatedly ramming the protesters as it drove wildly back and forth after activists surrounded and started hitting it with wooden sticks. Horrified protesters are heard screaming and cursing at the police.
Malayao and a few others were hit and injured, some hospitalized.
Lawmakers have also called for a congressional inquiry. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch urged national police chief Ronald dela Rosa, who has expressed dismay over the violent dispersal, to carry out an impartial investigation and prosecute those behind the violence.
“Failure to do so will only guarantee that the culture of impunity for unlawful police violence continues,” HRW said in a statement.
Wednesday’s protesters were demanding an end to the presence of visiting U.S. troops in the Philippines and to support Duterte’s vow to chart a foreign policy not dependent on the U.S., the country’s longtime treaty ally.
The violence happened as the police and Duterte are under increased international scrutiny for their alleged role in the killings of thousands of drug suspects and pushers as part of the tough-talking president’s war on illegal drugs.
nearing $20 Trillion in US debt it’s a no Brainer! Remove all military presence and stop all monetary aid to the Philippines.
We’ve got millions of Philippino immigrants in the US so what’s another couple million of them coming to the US under refugee status? Stop spending money in the P.I.’s
I have no fear allowing Philippine migrants into the US, they are not Muslim backstabbers wanting to come into the US to cause havoc. Although a possible 3rd World country at certain areas of the country I don’t feel they threaten humanity as Muslims do. Jesus couldn’t teach these MidEasterners thousands of years ago so… . It’s in their blood, if not it’s in their teachings be it their Muslim Religion, peers, parents, etc. I’m not saying all Muslim’s are bad bringing their hate of America to the States but even those that are born and bread in the US still somehow have the Hate for America in them. Nowadays it’s the MidEasterners or Muslims causing terror. I’m not kona sit back and listen to the PC Politicians redirect haboring the m.o.’s of these people to the general public but behind close doors talking about it! These politicans no matter what party Lie to it’s citizens being PC to keep citizens calm, it’s like leading Sheep to the slaughter house
You are some kind of stup!d aren’t you? Even your own statement contradicts yourself. Ever hear of Abu Sayyaf?
“Nowadays it’s the MidEasterners or Muslims causing terror.”
Dang those MidEasterners or Muslims for firebombing the GOP office in North Carolina.
You have facts Muslims didn’t fire bomb the RNC headquarters? Remember now, all you Sheep in Democrat clothing condemn TheDonald not wanting to allow Muslim into the US! lol. Maybe best you head on over to the FBI on Kapiolani Blvd., heh
I suggest that you read up on Muslims in the Philippines. Muslims make up 5.6% of the Filipinos in their country, exceeded only by Catholics. I’m not saying they pose a threat if they immigrate but to imply that there are no Muslims in the Philippines shows your ignorance. Google for information please.
Yes and stop Filipinos from taking U.S. cash back to Philippines, d… they draining this country.
you know what. Who cares if they send money back to their family in the P.I.’s because these hard workers in the US contributes of our Social Security Pyramid, they pay taxes! Very hard working people from what I can see. hahahaha, the fanatic Muslim’s in the P.I.’s are in the jungles being my guess and they like it there not showing up in their cities exploding themselves and others around them.
Ok give you that one they are hard workers….
For the safety of American citizens, including those of the State Department, should leave the Philippines for their safety. This latest protest and incident in front of the U.S. Embassy is just an example of other violent protests that the U.S. should expect and plan for. Exiting the Philippines entirely may be in the cards, so where will the U.S. develop a stronger military presence in the S.E. Asia region?
Mahalo! Barrack Obama. You may just have saved the US Billions of dollars pegged to the Philippines. Chee Ho!
I would think only Australia or New Zealand, if you consider the two being in S.E.Asia. Vietnam-no, Cambodia=no, Laos-no, Thailand-no. China looms too close and ethnic Chinese are influential in the countries, except Australia and New Zealand.
Power to the People, stick it to the Man!.
Time to burn a PI flag at the Consulate on Pali Road in Honolulu? tit for tat?
I will go and light a candle at my Church and pray for Peace today…..join me on Fort Street Mall, I look like Cosmo Kramer.
Did Duterte ask for U.S. aid yet after the typhoon?
Part of the US presence, in the Philippines, was due to the problems with the Muslim population, in the Philippines. The dangerous segment of the Philippine Muslims, were kidnapping people, as well as killing people. The US Special Forces, was sent to the Philippines, to assist the Philippine Military.
The Philippines was once a US Territory, before it became an Independent Republic. At different points in time, the Philippine people were US citizens, like the people from Puerto Rico.
The current Philippine president, is popular amongst many of his people, because he has gotten rid of the drug dealers, as well as the associated criminals, who were terrorizing the innocent citizens.
The Philippine leftist protesters, usually wreck-hurt-kill the equipment & police officers. Surrounding police vehicles, does not leave very many options, for a police officer to escape. Why don’t the protesters just let the cops escape ? No one, wants to lose a company car. Many people, who do not understand the impact of losing a company car, probably have never driven a company car.
Above all, the Philippine people voted for their current president. The Philippines is an independent sovereign nation. Why do other countries, want to control, other countries ?
If the Philippine people don’t like their president, the will vote him out of office.