Tension erupted outside the venue of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Investment forum in Taguig City on Thursday as police and progressive groups clashed during a protest against the event.
In a RH Jecelle Ricafort's report on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan, around 200 members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) staged a lightning rally outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, where President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. attended the forum.
The protesters voiced their opposition to the Pax Silica initiative, which they said is being pushed by the United States in the Philippines.
They also denounced the LEC investment forum, accusing the US government of acting like a colonial ruler by promoting investments aimed at exploiting the country’s natural resources.
Police officers and security personnel moved to contain the protesters as they attempted to approach the hotel.
The situation escalated into pushing and shoving between the protesters and police, with some rallyists falling amid the commotion.
The protesters also called the Marcos administration “traitorous,” alleging that it was selling the country’s resources to foreign “plunderers and war criminals.”
They claimed that the US plans to establish an industrial hub in Luzon to support its own defense requirements.
Around 600 international investors, industry leaders, project developers, and government officials are attending the forum, which aims to showcase infrastructure projects that are ready for financing.
