Hundreds of activists stormed near the United States Embassy in Manila on Wednesday to protest US Secretary of State John Kerry's meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Activists have expressed opposition over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA, that allows increased rotational presence of American troops and their access to existing Philippine military facilities.

"The US presence here is a reminder that we are not truly free. It is in furtherance of US imperialist interests in the region. It's not really for the Philippine good, it's not really for the Philippine interest," New Patriotic Alliance Secretary General said.

"I guess one of the many, an expression of intervention is characteristic of the United States of America to continue being a global police. Here in Southeast Asia, even in the global perspective, the very purpose and the intent is for the return of military bases. We are in the semi-colonial system after the direct colonial rule, they are still here, they are very influential in the political, economic affairs of the country. We are that threatened," Representative of Anakpawis Party-list Ariel Casila said.

Several political parties in the Philippines have recently filed a joint bill demanding the abolition of the EDCA. These parties consider this agreement as illegal, having its details kept from the public before it was signed in 2014. Related preliminary conferences held by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and National Defense also remained confidential. The Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of the agreement.