As the country marked its 127th Independence Day, progressive and militant groups gathered early Wednesday morning along Kalaw Avenue in Manila to protest the Philippine government's deepening military ties with the United States.
RH Boy Gonzales reported that rallyist also expressed outrage over the recent blocking of the proposed P200 legislative wage hike for private sector workers.
According to Jerome Adonis, Secretary General of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), this could have been the first time in 36 years of labor struggle that a long-awaited legislated wage increase would finally be realized.
WATCH: Nagsagawa ng kilos-protesta ang iba't ibang militanteng grupo ngayong umaga sa Kalaw Avenue sa Maynila para salubungin ang ika-127 anibersaryo ng Araw ng Kalayaan.
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Mariing kinukundena ng mga grupo ang pagharang ng P200 legislative wage increase para sa mga manggagawa sa… pic.twitter.com/19tzywhM6K
Their march began at the corner of Taft and Kalaw Avenue, where they intended to proceed to the U.S. Embassy.
However, the Manila Police District (MPD) blocked the protesters from marching toward the Embassy, stopping them in front of the National Library of the Philippines.
Tensions rose as the demonstrators attempted to push through, but the standoff remained peaceful as both sides stood firm.
In response, around 400 individuals held a program at the site, calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
The protestors decried U.S. military intervention in the country and demanded the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), saying that the country is only being used.
In addition to opposing the U.S. military presence in the country, the demonstrators also condemned American support for Israel amid the ongoing violence in Gaza.
Rallyists held banners calling for an end of genocide against the Palestinian people and urged the government to uphold humanitarian values and stand against imperialist aggression.
