Sanlakas, Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) and Samahang Progresibo ng Kabataan organised a protest outside the Australian Embassy in Makati in Manila the day before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in the Philippines for talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Junior.
The protesters held banners and chanted “No to war! Yes to peace! AUKUS out of Asia!”.
Speakers opposed the Philippines government’s support for increasing militarisation, including the AUKUS security arrangement. They said the nuclear-powered submarines add to the number of warships led by US and its allies in the South China Sea on the pretext of supporting “freedom of navigation”.
The Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition sent a solidarity message, which was read out by Emman David, from the PLM.
The Sydney-based group is a part of a growing movement against AUKUS, which is calling for it to be scrapped, joint military exercises to end, and for Australia to scrap plans for nuclear powered submarines.
Australia is increasing military ties with the Marcos Jnr regime and promising to have joint naval patrols with the Philippines navy in the South China Sea.
The protesters denounced the US troop presence in the Philippines, saying the number of bases had increased under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Video: Protest in Manila ahead of Australian PM's visit to Philippines. Green Left.