Scuffles have broken out between police and anti-US protesters in Manila. The protesters are demanding the removal of US troops from the country.

Ties seem to be straining between the US and the Philippines. Over one hundred protesters on Friday gathered outside the American Embassy, demanding US troops to leave.

"The Philippine president has finally found the courage and the backbone to stand up against US Intervention and we welcome and support our president's call for an independent foreign policy," said Renato Reyes, protest leader.

The protest comes days after President Rodrigo Duterte rejected the notion of joint patrols within disputed waters near the South China Sea.

"We will not join any expedition of patrolling the seas. I will not allow it because I do not want my country to be involved in a hostile act," said Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines.

"We cannot forever be the little brown brother of the US, we have to develop, we have to grow, and become the big brother of the next generation of the Filipinos," said Perfecto Yasay, Philippine Foreign Secretary.

Duterte's spat and confrontation with the U.S. began at this year's ASEAN summit.

His bad mouthing of US President Barack Obama prompted the latter to cancel their bilateral meeting earlier this month

"Is this in fact a time when we are gonna have some constructive talks... getting something done," said US president Barack Obama.

As Manila continues to pursue an independent foreign policy, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay reiterated the Philippines' commitment to its alliance with the US.

Yasay also defended the country's ongoing crackdown on drugs, and rejected US allegations of human rights violations.