Photo from Juan Carlo de Vela/MANILA BULLETIN
Around 50 members of Makabayan Alyansa ng Bansang Anti-War and Anti-Terrorism (MAKABANSA) held a protest rally in front of Vietnam's Embassy in Malate, Manila on Tuesday morning, August 1, calling on Vietnam to stop the alleged militarization of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and fishing in the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
"Ang inyong isla ay inyo. Ang amin ay amin (Your island is yours. Ours is ours)," MAKABANSA Spokesperson Benny Delos Reyes said.
"Sa embahada ng Vietnam, kung maaari naman po ay maunawaan ninyo ang kalagayan ng mga mahihirap na mangingisdang Pilipino, dahil kami po ay lumalaban lamang ng parehas (Please understand the situation of the poor Filipino fishermen)," he added.
The Manila Police District (MPD) said the protest started at 9:45 a.m. and ended at 10 a.m.
The militant group urged the embassy to respect their demands for amicable ties between the Philippines and Vietnam.
"Bigyan ninyo ng kalayaan na mangisda ang mahihirap na mamamayang Pilipino na ang trabaho ay mangisda lamang upang mabuhay ang kanilang mga pamilya (Please allow our fishermen to support their families through fishing)," Delos Reyes said.