15 Injured in Protest Outside U.S. Base in Philippines

Stone-throwing demonstrators clashed with Filipino soldiers guarding a U.S. air base Sunday in a protest marking Philippine independence day that left at least 15 people injured, police said.

Screaming “Yankee, go home,” and “Aquino, American lap dog,” 3,000 protesters marched from points in Angeles and assembled near the main gate of the Clark Air Base, 50 miles north of Manila.

About 300 soldiers armed with truncheons and shields stopped the marchers about 25 yards from the gate, but the protesters tried to force their way closer by ramming their flatbed truck into the opposing ranks.

Stones and rocks rained on the soldiers. Some pro-American onlookers joined the melee and fought the protesters. Police said at least 15 people were slightly injured, including four soldiers.

In Manila, police stopped a march to the U.S. Embassy by about 4,000 protesters demanding the dismantling of American military bases in the Philippines.

“There is no easy road to nationhood and enduring democracy,” President Corazon Aquino told a crowd of 20,000 at the seafront Rizal Park, where a two-hour civic-military parade highlighted the nation’s independence day festivities.

“The road signs have been erased or confused by those who do not want us to complete the journey,” Aquino said. But she said her government is moving to ease the nation’s massive problems.

Security was tight at the park. Aquino, who is scheduled to leave today for a weeklong visit to Switzerland and Italy, arrived and departed by helicopter.

Raid Under Investigation

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Ramon Montano, chief of the Philippine Constabulary, said “10 to 15” military personnel were being questioned in connection with Saturday’s raid on his headquarters at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon City.

Armed men wearing black ski masks seized 24 M-16 assault rifles from an armory, but guards foiled their attempt to release imprisoned former Quirino Province Gov. Orlando Dulay and other mutineers.

The Camp Crame stockade holds 49 rebel soldiers, including 13 officers involved in rebel Col. Gregorio Honasan’s Aug. 28 coup attempt that left 53 people dead and nearly toppled the Aquino government.

Montano said intelligence reports showed the raiders were dismissed members of ousted ruler Ferdinand E. Marcos’s elite Presidential Security Command, which has been disbanded.