Anti-US protesters stage rally, march in Zambo City vs Balikatan Exercises

[The Northerner]

Anti-US Balikatan protesters have gathered at Plaza Pershing and marched to the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) headquarters in this city, where hundreds of US troops are currently stationed.

Carrying streamers and placards calling for abrogation of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and pullout of US troops from the Philippines, the protesters headed by leaders of Patriotiko Mindanao and group of Bayan Muna leader Satur Ocampo burned an American flag with anti-US imperialism messages.
The demonstrators issued statement to media, saying "Today is another history in the making in our struggle for our nation, for our land, for our future...Today, we 4,000 people coming from all over Mindanao since Monday, are now here to register our strong opposition to this Balikatan Exercises here in Mindanao."

They said that this Lakbayan ng Mindanawon Laban sa Balikatan has seen contingents coming from as far as Davao, Cotabato, General Santos, Koronadal, Butuan, Cagayan, Dipolog and Pagadian and now converged here in Zamboanga City with one call : Stop the United States' plunder and militarism in our land!"

"We are one with today’s nationwide protests against the presence of thousands of American and other foreign troops engaging in the 28th US-Philippine Balikatan Joint military exercises in Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu in Mindanao, Tarlac, Palawan, Manila ad other parts of Luzon from April 16-28," the protesters said.

Read more: http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/news/13-top-stories/9601-anti-us-protesters-stage-rally-march-in-zambo-city-vs-balikatan-exercises-.html


Can anyone justify why the US military needs to be stationed in The Philippines?

Is the deployment of US soldiers in The Philippines worth the financial cost and the blowback?