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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Protesters stage rally outside Chinese embassy, call on gov't to reaffirm PH sovereignty

Protesters stage rally outside Chinese embassy, call on gov't to reaffirm PH sovereignty

Published Jan 28, 2026 11:36 am
Members of the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement and allied patriotic groups hold a lighting rally in Makati City on Jan. 28, 2026, protesting China’s reported harassment, water cannon use, and other aggressive actions against Filipino soldiers and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, and calling for the defense of Philippine sovereignty and maritime rights.
Members of the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement and allied patriotic groups hold a lighting rally in Makati City on Jan. 28, 2026, protesting China’s reported harassment, water cannon use, and other aggressive actions against Filipino soldiers and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, and calling for the defense of Philippine sovereignty and maritime rights.
The Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement, together with leaders and members of various patriotic organizations and non-government groups, held a lighting rally Wednesday morning, Jan. 28, in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati  to protest what they described as China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
The protest was conducted from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, where participants lit symbolic lights while calling for the defense of Philippine sovereignty and maritime rights.
Organizers said the action aimed to condemn reported incidents of water cannon use, harassment, and other coercive measures against Filipino soldiers and fishermen operating within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
They asserted that such acts violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the disputed waters.
Among those who took part in and expressed support for the protest were organizations associated with civic leader Jose Antonio Goitia, Chairman Emeritus of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and the FDNY Movement.
Giselle L. Albano, FDNY convenor and spokesperson, said China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea go beyond legal violations and directly affect Filipinos.
“China’s bullying in the West Philippine Sea is not only a violation of international law, but a direct act of intimidation against the Filipino people,” Albano said. She warned that allowing such actions to continue could normalize aggressive behavior, impacting not only soldiers and fishermen but ordinary citizens as well.
Albano stressed that defending national sovereignty, maritime rights, and national interest remains the responsibility of the Philippine government.
“We support government officials who speak out and stand firm for the West Philippine Sea. Defending sovereignty is not optional; it is an obligation,” she said.
The group also criticized certain politicians, columnists, and individuals whom it accused of defending China despite reported incidents of harassment involving Filipinos in their own waters.
FDNY urged the public to remain vigilant against misinformation and to stay united in asserting the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea.
The group likewise expressed support for the government’s current position and called on officials to remain firm and principled in upholding Philippine sovereignty.
The protest concluded with chants rejecting China’s so-called “nine-dash line” claim and calls for Beijing to withdraw from areas within the Philippines’ EEZ.
“We will not be silenced. The West Philippine Sea is ours. China is the bully, not the Philippines,” Albano said.

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