MILITANT group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Tuesday trooped near the United States Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in Manila to protest the American role in the war against the Islamic State-linked Maute terrorist group in Marawi City. Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bayan, said the rally was held on the day the US marked its 241st Independence Day to criticize President Rodrigo Duterte for allowing US troops to join the war against the Maute terrorists. He, however, clarified that Bayan was for the annihilation of the Maute terror group, which attacked Marawi on May 23 and forced Duterte to declare martial law. The government and the US embassy have clarified that US troops were merely providing “technical assistance” and won’t join combat operations. “We started our walk from Kalaw Street only to find out that the police have occupied this corner,” Reyes said.

Source: Manila Times July 04, 2017 15:56 UTC