Protesters rally vs Aquino's 'anti-poor' policy

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - While President Benigno Aquino III was delivering his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, crowds of protesters held rallies outside the House of Representatives in Quezon City to voice their disapproval against the president's "anti-poor" policy.

The protesters came from several groups from some provinces on the islands of  Luzon and Palawan. Some arrived in Metro Manila on Sunday for Monday's rallies.

They converged on the Mabuhay Rotunda in Quezon City Monday morning and marched to Times Street, where President Aquino lived before moving to Malacanang Palace in 2010, to protest against his "anti-poor and procapitalist regime."

The police estimated a crowd of 5,000 along the Commonwealth Avenue, who tried to break the police lines in front of St. Peter' s Church at 10 a.m..

Carrying posters with slogans of "3 years of poverty and injustice" and "Reject the US-Aquino regime", protesters threw rocks and eggs at policemen and destroyed the metal barricade between east and west bound lanes on the Commonwealth Avenue as they tried to get closer to the site of the Congress where Aquino will deliver the SONA speech.  

At least 15 policemen and several civilians were injured as clash between police and protesters took place on the Commonwealth Avenue. Police arrested at least eight protesters, including four students.

Due to awful traffic caused by the protest, President Aquino had to take a helicopter to arrive at the Congress in time to deliver his speech before the joint sessions of the Congress.