Protesters, police clash ahead of Aquino’s state of the union address

Some 4,000 Filipino protesters clashed with riot police yesterday as they tried to breach a barricade of barbed wire and shipping containers ahead of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s final state of the nation address.

Several policemen and protestors were injured when authorities used water cannons to push back the activists, who hurled rocks and bottles at the police, according to officials and Red Cross volunteers.

This was Mr Aquino’s final address before his term comes to an end next June, as a Philippine president can only hold a single six-year term by law. Photo: AP