MANILA, Philippines — Several groups on Independence Day, Saturday, trooped to the Chinese embassy to protest the regional power's continued incursions in the West Philippine Sea and what they described as President Rodrigo Duterte's failure to protect the country's sovereignty in the area. Foreign-dictates over our national economy, politics, culture and way of life persist," Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said in a statement. June 12, Saturday, is the 123rd anniversary of the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain, its colonizer of over three centuries. After campaigning on taking a strong stance against China in the West Philippine Sea, Duterte early into his term said he would "set aside" Manila's arbitral win to pursue closer ties with Beijing. A few years later, Duterte announced that he entered into an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping allowing China to trawl in Philippine waters.

Source: Philippine Star June 12, 2021 09:33 UTC