A GROUP of protesters marched to the Chinese embassy in Makati City, Metro Manila on Tuesday, June 12, while the nation was commemorating the 120th Independence Day from Spanish rule.

The Southern Police District said at least 100 rallyists from Anakbayan and other left-leaning groups led by former congressman Teddy Casiño converged at the Buendia freedom park and marched along Senator Gil Puyat Avenue towards the Chinese embassy where they staged a program around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Southern Police District public information officer Jenny Tecson said the protesters called for justice for Filipino fishermen who were allegedly bullied by the Chinese Coast Guard in the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

They also demanded that China vacate the area, which is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone and what China claimed as the nine-dash line, a claim that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in July 2016 as without legal basis.

On Monday, Malacañang presented fisherman Romel Cejuela who said China controls and regularly patrols Scarborough Shoal while Philippine Coast Guard is nowhere to be seen in the area.

The fisherman also belied reports that the Chinese Coast Guard harassed him and his group. He said they barter often, with the Chinese giving them noodles, cigarettes and water in exchange for fish.

From Makati, the group of protesters proceeded to the United States embassy in Manila, where they also held a brief program.

Manila Police District spokesperson Erwin Margarejo said police personnel were deployed in the area to stop the rallyists from getting near the embassy. (SunStar Philippines)