Filipino activists rally in support of Duterte’s anti-US stance after 100 days in office

Record ID: 82979

  • Title: Filipino activists rally in support of Duterte’s anti-US stance after 100 days in office
  • Date: 8th October 2016
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (OCTOBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) PRESIDENTIAL PALACE COMPOUND GATE CROWD VARIOUS OF ACTIVIST HOLDING PLACARD READING (Filipino): "END THE CENTURIES OF EXPLOITATION OF THE UNITED STATES. JUNK EDCA!" ACTIVISTS RAISING FISTS CROWD VARIOUS OF ACTIVIST LEADER RENATO REYES SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTIVIST LEADER, RENATO REYES, SAYING: "We have a president who is thinking of national sovereignty and national interest and who is not bowing down to the United States that is the most important contribution that the president has made in his first 100 days" ACTIVISTS HOLDING BANNER AND PLACARDS ACTIVIST HOLDING PLACARD READING (Filipino): "PRESIDENT DUTERTE, WOMEN ARE WITH YOU IN YOUR FIGHT AGAINST FOREIGN INTRUSION. JUNK EDCA!" ACTIVIST HOLDING PLACARD READING (English): "US TROOPS OUT NOW. JUNK EDCA!" (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTIVIST LEADER, RENATO REYES, SAYING: "The bottom line, as I said, it has to be equal and mutually beneficial relations with countries outside the United States. So we cannot have a repeat of master-puppet relationship with any other country. We had that with the United States, we cannot have the same when dealing with other countries" CROWD ACTIVIST HOLDING BANNER READING (Filipino): DOWN WITH IMPERIALISM
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2016 09:31
  • Keywords: Rodrigo Duterte 100 days rally Philippines Manila
  • Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
  • City: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015358VUT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:About 500 activists marked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's 100 days in office with a rally in front of the presidential palace gates in Manila Saturday (October 8) supporting his plans to cut off ties with the United States.
    Duterte, a former tough-talking mayor, was sworn into office on June 30 and has since then repeatedly criticized Manila's military and economic relations with the US.
    Activists held various placards urging Duterte to terminate the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which allows US troops to temporarily use Philippine military facilities.
    Activist leader Renato Reyes said he lauds Duterte for being the first president to reject "US dominance" in the Philippines.
    "We have a president who is thinking of national sovereignty and national interest and who is not bowing down to the United States that is the most important contribution that the president has made in his first 100 days," he said.
    Duterte has repeatedly cursed the US along with other international bodies due to criticism of his ongoing crackdown on drug users and peddlers, which has killed more than 3,600 people.
    Duterte threatened to "break up" with the US and has announced plans to broker new ties with Washington's rivals China and Russia, distancing Manila from its former colonial master and long-time treaty ally.
    Reyes said this will pave the way to an independent foreign policy and urged Duterte not to be beholden to China and Russia instead.
    "The bottom line, as I said, it has to be equal and mutually beneficial relations with countries outside the United States. So we cannot have a repeat of master-puppet relationship with any other country. We had that with the United States, we cannot have the same with dealing with other countries," he said.
    US and Philippine troops annually hold war games and military exercises to test each other's capabilities against external aggression.
    Marines from Manila and Washington are currently engaged in bilateral military exercises in Luzon island until October 12.
    Duterte said the Philippines will no longer host US troops and military exercises by next year.
    Duterte has been rated "very good" in an opinion poll on his first 90 days in office, which has been defined largely by his deadly war on drugs and vitriol against Western leaders.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register