Protesters clashed with police in Pasay City on Wednesday during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit for the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting [1].
The unrest highlights growing regional tension regarding U.S. foreign policy and the perceived lack of accountability for officials involved in overseas conflicts.
The rally, which included members of the progressive group Bayan, centered on accusations against Rubio regarding his role in the U.S. war on Iran [1, 3]. Demonstrators carried signs labeling the Secretary of State a war criminal and demanded accountability for his actions [3].
Physical confrontations broke out between police and the crowd during the demonstration in Manila [1, 2]. During the chaos, two journalists were nearly arrested by authorities [2].
Local police maintained a presence to secure the perimeter of the ASEAN meeting as the protests escalated. The group Bayan and other organizers said that war criminals are not welcome in the Philippines [3].
Rubio's visit to the Philippines occurs amid a broader diplomatic effort to strengthen ties within the ASEAN bloc. However, the presence of the progressive opposition indicates a domestic rift in the Philippines over the country's alignment with U.S. strategic interests [1, 2].
“War criminals not welcome”
The friction in Pasay City reflects a deeper ideological struggle within the Philippines, where progressive groups are leveraging high-profile diplomatic summits to challenge the U.S.-Philippine security alliance. By framing the protest around the 'war criminal' narrative, activists are attempting to pivot the conversation from regional security to international human rights law.
