Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Maria Tan

ABS-CBN News

<p> MANILA — A confrontation broke out between police officers and protesters during a rally in Pasay City on Wednesday, staged by the progressive group Bayan and other groups in connection with the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/rubio-tells-asean-allowing-iran-control-of-hormuz-dangerous-precedent-1153">visit of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio </a>to the Philippines.</p><p>The protesters at the CCP Complex carried placards and a banner declaring “War criminal Marco Rubio, not welcome in the Philippines” as they denounced Rubio’s visit and the United States’ military presence in the Philippines.</p><p>They also decried the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/teodoro-says-pax-silica-project-won-t-threaten-water-supply-1532">Pax Silica AI-native industrial hub </a>project in New Clark City jointly worked on by the two countries, which critics fear for its possible effect on the environment, food, and water supply in surrounding communities. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/teodoro-says-pax-silica-project-won-t-threaten-water-supply-1532">Teodoro says Pax Silica project won&#x27;t threaten water supply </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/20/us-official-in-ph-inspects-future-ai-industrial-hub-1309">US official in PH inspects future AI industrial hub </a></div><p>Police prevented the anti-US group from approaching the Philippine International Convention Center where Rubio is attending the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers&#x27; Meeting.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/rubio-tells-asean-allowing-iran-control-of-hormuz-dangerous-precedent-1153">Rubio tells ASEAN: Allowing Iran control of Hormuz &#x27;dangerous precedent&#x27; </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02kzjZgvGe7DvTDfCMpD8g8HLsrmE22cBqSHxnCdaQT2YjYXEkj4ZRr67HqvjTpwZKl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span></div><p>The tension escalated when police officers attempted to arrest a protester and dragged the individual toward the back of the area. </p><p>The 22-year-old female member of the NGO Center for Environment Concerns and the Kalikasan environmental network is being held in police custody, according to a DZMM report.</p><p>Former Associated Press editor Bullit Marquez and Manila Times photo editor Rene Dilan attempted to photograph the incident.</p><p>Police officers confronted and prevented the two journalists from documenting the arrest, Marquez said. </p><p>The situation further escalated when Marquez was himself targeted for arrest and was about to be handcuffed by police officers. His camera fell to the ground during the confrontation.</p><p>The media men were immediately let go after fellow journalists covering spoke up against the attempted arrest.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/7/21/myanmar-s-future-mideast-fighting-hang-over-asean-talks-1019">South China Sea rivalry looms over ASEAN meeting </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/asean-foreign-ministers-gravely-concerned-over-renewed-hostilities-in-middle-east-1505">ASEAN foreign ministers &#x27;gravely concerned&#x27; over &#x27;renewed hostilities&#x27; in Middle East</a></div><p>The Photojournalists&#x27; Center of the Philippines condemned what it called as the &quot;harassment and intimidation&quot; of the two journalists.</p><p>&quot;Journalists and photojournalists perform a vital public service by documenting events of public interest. They must be allowed to carry out their work without threats, obstruction, or intimidation,&quot; the group said in a statement. </p><p>&quot;Any act by law enforcement that prevents members of the press from documenting public assemblies undermines press freedom, the public&#x27;s right to information, and the principles of transparency and accountability. The safety and independence of journalists must be respected at all times, including during protests and other high-profile public events,&quot; it added. </p><div> </div>

<p>A confrontation broke out between police officers and protesters during a rally in Pasay City on Wednesday, staged by the progressive group Bayan and other groups in connection with the visit of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Philippines. </p>

A confrontation broke out between police officers and protesters during a rally in Pasay City on Wednesday, staged by the progressive group Bayan and other groups in connection with the visit of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Philippines.

Anti-US protesters clash with police during Rubio visit; 2 journalists nearly arrested

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Anti-US protesters clash with police during Rubio visit; 2 journalists nearly arrested

Maria Tan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 22, 2026 01:23 PM PHT

|

Updated July 22, 2026 02:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Pasay City

protest

Marco Rubio

photographer

journalist

arrest

ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting

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