6 arrested for US embassy protest

MANILA, Philippines - Six protesters, mostly students, were arrested and charged for vandalizing the United States embassy and attacking police officers stationed along Roxas Boulevard yesterday.

The protesters demanded that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines be junked and that US forces be removed from the country.

Among those charged and arrested were Aries Gupit, 24, of the University of the Philippines-Diliman and Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Technology students Teddy James Angeles, 19; Gerardo Gaddi, 21; and Orion Yoshida, 21.

Graduate Gem Cataag and Polytechnic  University of the Philippines student Karl Paulie Anareta were also arrested and charged.

The protest happened on the day local newspapers reported that China has built a third airstrip in the West Philippine Sea.

The protesters, carrying placards and bags of paint, stormed the US embassy before 6 a.m.

Police officers from the Manila Police District Station 5 said they saw the protesters throwing paint at the US embassy.

“As we approached them, they started running, heading toward mobile car number 388 and throwing stones at the car,” the police officers said in a joint affidavit of arrest.

The police officers said some of the protesters tried to turn the car over while two policemen were still inside the vehicle.

The protesters also threw paint at the anti-riot police officers, hitting some in the face and uniform.

They also attacked one of the cops and broke the windshield, side mirror, and scratched the car doors of a police mobile.

The arrested protesters were taken to the MPD and charged with violating Batas Pambansa 880, illegal assembly, resisting arrest, direct assault, vandalism, malicious mischief resulting in damage to government property, and physical injury.

The protesters’ companions followed them to the MPD and vandalized the MPD headquarters as well, police said. – Aie Balagtas See, Rhodina Villanueva