Protesters March Against Rubio In Manila, Chant Ban Trump

More than 100 anti-imperialist protesters clashed with police outside the venue of the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay City, Metro Manila on Wednesday, as United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the regional gathering.

Members of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other activist groups gathered outside the Aliw Theatre in Pasay City carrying placards, criticising what they described as United States intervention abroad and increased American military presence in the Philippines.

Protesters were heard chanting “Ban Rubio! Ban Trump!” as they marched toward the venue.

Anti-imperialist groups also staged a separate protest near the Philippine International Convention Centre in Passay, where Rubio attended the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, to oppose his visit and denounce the United States-led Pax Silica initiative, a proposed undersea cable project linking the Philippines, Guam and Hawaii.

Two photojournalists covering the rally, former Associated Press editor Bullit Marquez and The Manila Times photographer Rene Dilan, were nearly arrested by police as tensions broke out between demonstrators and security forces.

Rubio arrived in Manila on Tuesday for a five-day visit to attend the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

He also made a courtesy call on Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Junior at the Malacanang Palace on Wednesday.

At the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Rubio announced that the United States government would provide $2.5bn in strategic investments in Southeast Asia.

“We’re investing because the development of ASEAN is also in the interest of the United States,” he said.