Graphic video: Police van rams into crowd in Philippines

Dubai - Demonstration goes out of control; water cannons used, jeepneys hit by batons.

It was a scene straight out of Fast and Furious.
A video from The Associated Press shows that a Manila policeman rammed his van into protesters during an anti-United States rally in front of the US embassy in the Philippine capital on Wednesday (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT):

The AP footage shows that the cop drove the van wildly back and forth through the mob; at least one person was clearly shown under the vehicle, but few others were run over as well, but managed to get back up. The stunning incident left a trail of people thrown sideways "like bowling pins", and bloodied a few.
The protesters were demanding that Washington ends the presence of its military troops in the Philippines, while also supporting President Rodrigo Duterte's call for a foreign policy not dependent on the US.
The protest was organised by the left-wing Bayan (Nation) group, which normally holds peaceful demonstrations.
That wasn't exactly how it panned out as it was a wild day for both sides.
The AP reported that things turned ugly after police hurled teargas at protesters who were able to break through a line of riot police; they threw red paint at a US government seal at the embassy's offices in Manila. A firetruck, meanwhile, doused the rowdy ones with water.
Police were also seen hitting pedestrian jeepneys, which were apparently carrying some of the protesters.
No gunshots were fired, but after the smoke had cleared, arrests were made and some protesters were whisked away in handcuffs.
Bayan's Renato Reyes and other protest leaders naturally condemned the way the cops handled the situation, saying that "even as the president [Duterte] vowed an independent foreign policy, Philippine police forces still act as running dogs of the US".
The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, had no comment as at Press time.
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com

• Philippines