4th February 2016 - Philippines

Special Advisory - Philippines: Monitor developments, anticipate further protests over controversial US-Philippines security agreement

Members travelling to or operating in the Philippines, particularly the capital Manila, should continue to anticipate further protest activity by activist groups over the controversial Enhanced Defence Co-operation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and United States.

Low-level protest activity by activists and student groups has taken place in Metro Manila and other locations since the Supreme Court upheld the EDCA's constitutionality on 12 January. A protest rally on 4 February was held in front of the US embassy along Manila's Roxas Boulevard. While there were no reports of major disruption during the demonstration, additional police personnel were deployed due to heavy traffic in the vicinity.

Travel Briefing

Further short-notice protests are likely to take place as several activist groups have filed motions before the Supreme Court, urging the body to reverse its decision on the EDCA. The security agreement between the Philippines and US was signed in 2014 in light of rising tension with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea (also known as the West Philippine Sea). However, the agreement, which would see US troops rotate through the Philippines for training and to help build military facilities, is yet to be fully implemented due to legal challenges from groups opposed to US military involvement in domestic security affairs.

Potential protest sites in Metro Manila include Mendiola Street, the US embassy in Roxas Boulevard, the Supreme Court complex in Ermita, the Department of Agrarian Reform building on Elliptical Road in Quezon City and the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City. The authorities are likely to heighten security measures, including the deployment of additional police personnel and implementing road closures and cordons around rally site; all of which are liable to cause localised travel disruption.

While future protests can be expected to be largely peaceful, there remains the potential for demonstrations to escalate into violence. The police are known to exercise restraint in their response, though any attempt by protesters to breach security cordons is likely to be met with a forceful response, possibly involving the use of tear gas and batons. Any unrest would pose incidental risks to bystanders, therefore members should avoid all protests as a basic security precaution.

Travel Advice Summary

• Avoid all protests as a routine security precaution; be prepared to adjust itineraries.
• Allow additional time to undertake journeys due to possible traffic disruption.
• Members with appointments at or near protest locations should reconfirm that the site is clear of demonstrations before setting out; if protests are ongoing, reconfirm the possibility of accessing premises safely.
• If inadvertently caught up in the vicinity of a protest, quickly but calmly relocate to a secure location such as your accommodation or local office.
• Monitor developments via local contacts and our travel security alerts on the Philippines for further updates.