Filipino activists protest presence of US troops in the Philippines

Militant groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and League of Filipino Students stage a protest Saturday, June 12, 2010 in Davao City in the southern Philippines and denounced the continuing presence of US troops in the country. The groups also denounced the Arroyo administration for its subservience to the unfair agreements imposed by the United States. The protesters challenged the incoming Aquino administration to have a stronger stance in defending national patrimony and sovereignty. (Photos contributed by Karlos Manlupig)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 12, 2010) - Militant groups Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and League of Filipino Students staged a protest Saturday in Davao City in the southern Philippines and denounced the continuing presence of US troops in the country.

The groups also denounced the Arroyo administration for its subservience to the unfair agreements imposed by the United States. The protesters challenged the incoming Aquino administration to have a stronger stance in defending national patrimony and sovereignty.

US troops are training Filipino soldiers in anti-terrorism warfare and have been helping the military defeat communist insurgency and Abu Sayyaf group, including Jemaah Islamiya in Mindanao and other parts of the country.

American forces are also conducting humanitarian missions in many areas in Mindanao and established a forward base in Zamboanga City and camps in Sulu province. But political activists insisted the humanitarian projects were just being used to justify the continued presence of US troops in the country. (Karlos Manlupig contributed to this report)