Progressive groups and organizations marched along Kalaw Avenue in Manila on Friday to mark Independence Day with protest, rallying against what they called the country's "false independence."
The demonstrators, led by progressive coalition Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), had originally intended to hold their program directly in front of the United States Embassy, which was meant to underscore their denunciation of continued American influence over Philippine affairs, particularly on matters of military presence and economic integration.
Tensions between the rallyists and state forces escalated when demonstrators attempted to dismantle the erected cyclone-wire barricades that blocked access to the embassy grounds.
The confrontation drew an estimated 300 participants at its peak along Kalaw Avenue, making it the largest single protest site monitored by police in Metro Manila that day.
During the standoff, a protester was caught spraying paint on the center island along the avenue. When an undercover police officer intervened to stop him, the protester turned and sprayed paint directly into the officer's face before struggling free and fleeing—removing his shirt in an apparent attempt to avoid identification.
"He was spraying paint and vandalizing the center island along Kalaw Avenue. He was stopped, but he also sprayed our police officer in civilian clothes," NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo told reporters. "He tried to arrest him. But the protester struggled and got free."
Despite the incident, Asilo maintained that the NCRPO had yet to officially record any untoward incident during this year's Independence Day celebrations.
More than 89,000 police officers and force multipliers were deployed nationwide for the Independence Day holiday, with approximately 16,000 assigned to the National Capital Region.
By mid-morning, the NCRPO was monitoring at least four active protest sites across Metro Manila, in addition to a motorcade that passed near the Senate building.
WHAT PROTESTERS WANT
Back at the rally, BAYAN Secretary General Mong Palatino challenged the very notion of independence so long as foreign military forces remain a fixture on Philippine soil.
"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?" Palatino said.
BAYAN stressed that the United States remains a direct threat to Philippine sovereignty, pointing in particular to the growing number of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country and the emergence of 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.
EDCA sites are joint military facilities used by Philippine and American forces during the Balikatan exercises, the annual bilateral military drills between the two nations. As of 2026, there are nine such sites operating across the country.
Progressive groups have long criticized both the exercises and the facilities, citing their adverse effects on the communities where they are located.
The coalition also trained its sights on Pax Silica, a US-backed initiative that proposes to build a roughly 4,000-hectare economic zone at New Clark City, Pampanga, within the Luzon Economic Corridor.
BAYAN has argued the project would pave the way for a foreign weapons manufacturing hub on Philippine soil, previously condemning it as "war production disguised as development.”
Written by Carmel Serato, Insight PH
Carmel Serato, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
