By Benjamin Cuaresma
MAKATI CITY — On Saturday (July 22, 2023), a militant group from Southern Tagalog held a protest rally outside the Chinese Embassy in Makati City, voicing their strong opposition to what they perceive as Chinese interference in the country’s sovereignty.
The demonstrators passionately decried China’s alleged unlawful encroachment upon the nation’s sovereign territory, expressing particular concern over China’s presence, aggressive actions, and harassment against fishermen and the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea.
Tensions escalated during the demonstration, leading to confrontations between the police and the protesting group along Gil Puyat Avenue, where the Chinese Embassy is located.
In a symbolic gesture of dissent, some members of the militant group set a Chinese flag ablaze, symbolizing their resistance to China’s persistent and unauthorized activities within the Philippines’ economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
Furthermore, the Manila Police District (MPD) took measures to block certain demonstrators from the Bigkisan Caravan who were en route to the US Embassy along UN Ave. (ai/mnm)
