Manila police battle protesting students

October 8, 1981

Police firing guns and swinging truncheons fought rock-throwng students denouncing the "US-Marcos dictatorship" in the worst rioting here in five years.

The rioting followed a three-hour demonstration by about 1,500 people after their demands for a meeting with officials in the government of President Ferdinand Marcos at the National Press Club were ignored. At least five student leaders were arrested in the 30-minute battle at a public square in front of the downtown post office.