Manila - Hundreds of protesters marched to the US embassy in
the Philippine capital on Friday to denounce incoming US president
Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration.
The demonstrators, led by left-wing activists, urged President
Rodrigo Duterte to be wary of Trump and keep his promise to maintain
an independent foreign policy in relation to the US.
Chanting "Dump Trump," the protesters burned a US flag near the
embassy and also demanded the pull-out of US troops and facilities in
the Philippines and the abrogation of defence agreements between the
two countries.
"Trump represents the worst of US imperialist interests and poses a
danger to the world," the group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New
Nationalist Movement) said in a statement.
Since he became president in late June, Duterte has criticized the US
in various statements and vowed to "separate" the Philippines from
the US by following foreign policy that does not mimic that of
Washington's.
He had wanted to scrap annual joint military exercises between
Filipino and American troops, but later agreed to a reduced number of
war games.
Duterte has also vowed to review a 10-year enhanced defence agreement
with the US signed in 2014. The pact allows greater access for US
troops to military facilities in the Philippines.