MANILA, Philippines — Progressive groups and organizations marched along Kalaw Avenue in Manila on Friday, June 12, in line with the commemoration of Independence Day to protest against what they called “false independence” of the country.
The groups originally intended to conduct a program in front of the United States Embassy United States Embassy in the Philippines to denounce the continuous intervention of the US government in the Philippines, particularly in matters of military and economic integration.
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Tensions arose between the rallyists and state forces after the former tried to remove the barricades of cyclone wires that prevented them from conducting their program at their original venue.
“Paano tayo magkakaroon ng kalayaan kung malaya ang mga dayuhang pwersa na gamitin ang ating mga bayan, ang ating mga komunidad para gawing training at staging ground ng kanilang war exercises at acts of aggression?” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Bagong Alyansang Makabayan General Secretary Mong Palatino said.
(How can we achieve independence when foreign forces are free to use our cities and communities as their training and staging ground for their war exercises and acts of aggressions?)
BAYAN stressed that the United States remains a threat to Philippine sovereignty, pointing to the heavy presence of EDCA sites in the country and the Pax Silica initiative.
“Paano ang kalayaan kung merong dagdag na base militar, may Pax Silica, at ang gobyerno natin namimigay ng lupa sa mga dayuhan para gawing weapons hub?” Palatino added.
(How can we say we are free when there are additional military bases, there is Pax Silica, and our government gives away land to foreigners to establish a weapons hub?)
The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites are joint military facilities that are typically used by the US military and the Philippine military during Balikatan exercises, the annual bilateral military exercises between the two nations. As of 2026, there are nine EDCA sites across the country.
The progressives consistently criticize these exercises and the presence of EDCA sites in the country because of their negative effects on the communities where these facilities are located.
Apart from this, progressives called out the US-led initiative Pax Silica, which aims to construct a 4,000-hectare economic zone at New Clark City in Pampanga. According to the group, this would only pave the way for the “establishment of a weapons hub” in the Luzon Economic Corridor.
BAYAN also condemned the initiative in its earlier statements, saying it is a “war production disguised as development”.
The Hindependence Day protest led by BAYAN is being conducted in different parts of the country.