Protesters arrested at lightning rally at US Embassy

The police took into custody an undetermined number of protesters at a lightning rally near the United States Embassy in Manila before noon on Tuesday. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that at least two militant groups picketed the embassy to call for the junking of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Some of the militants managed to get near the US Embassy's gates before police caught up with them, the report said. Tension built up between the protesters and police, who tried to push them back. Militant groups have been pressing the Philippine government to junk the RP-US VFA, which they claimed to be one-sided in favor of the Americans. The VFA governs the conduct of visiting US forces involved in joint military exercises with Filipino troops. Malacañang is currently reviewing the VFA. Tuesday's incident came on the eve of a visit of former US President William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton to Manila for a speaking engagement. The police had beefed up security in Manila while the Coast Guard established a buffer zone in part of Manila Bay near the venue of Clinton's speaking engagement. Clinton's visit comes after the US advised its citizens about possible terrorist attacks on the Philippines. — RSJ/VVP, GMANews.TV