The militant women’s organization Gabriela held a demonstration on Wednesday in Manila near the US embassy to demand the departure of US troops, at the conclusion of the recent round of military exercises between US and Philippine troops.

Gabriela again called for the abrogation of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Joan Salvador, Gabriela secretary general, claimed that the US presence is felt not only in the Philippines, but in the entire region of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

“The superpower is pushing its Asia Pacific Century agenda in the region. Such strong presence spells more trouble than good, especially since this serves to fan war threats from North Korea. The US, with the Aquino government’s complicity, will drag us to war whether we like it or not,” said Salvador.

Gabriela also criticized the statements of Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin who declared that the is country open to US basing in case of war in the Korean peninsula erupts.

Salvador said that this is a virtual invitation for war. “What kind of government would put his country at risk of war instead of helping out in finding a peaceful solution to the brewing conflict?” she asked.

The party-list group, Gabriela Women’s Party, meanwhile, also condemned the continued presence of US troops in the country, and said they are “not fooled by the thinly-disguised expansionist agenda of the US in the pretext of humanitarian and disaster preparedness effort via the VFA.”

“The VFA, in the light of the US threats in the Korean peninsula, exposes the Filipino people to a military conflict that we have nothing to do with,” said Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus.

De Jesus said that Balikatan virtually allows the US military to prepare its forces and ammunition for the attack against North Korea and to flaunt its military force in the Asia Pacific.

“The US military has already deployed hundreds of air crafts and warships in the region. Combined with the increasing number of US troops deployed in the Philippines and the frequency of port calls and arrivals of US warships in Philippine seas, it is clear that  the Philippines will be used as a launching pad for attacks against its enemies in the region,” added Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan.

The protesters tried to reach the US embassy but were pushed backed by the police.

During the program, Gabriela members threw paper airplanes in the direction of the US embassy, with the call to have the US troops sent on the first flight back home.