Youth protesters throw paint on Arroyo poster in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - Youth protesters again gave police the slip on Thursday as they splashed paint on a tarpaulin poster of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Caloocan City ahead of the July 28 State of the Nation Address (SONA). Radio dzBB's Louie Garcia reported that the militant youths quickly dispersed before Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) men and police personnel could respond. Caloocan City traffic officers said the youths were carrying placards reading "Oust Gloria!" and targeted the tarpaulin near the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Monumento terminal. The lightning rally was one of several protests slated in the run-up to President Arroyo's SONA. Earlier, police and presidential guards in Manila started barricading roads leading to Malacañang Palace with 20-foot container vans and kept alert against lightning rallies. - GMANews.TV