Students burning a mock American flag outside the US Embassy in Manila yesterday during a rally against the US-Philippine Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement. The pact allowing an increased presence of US military forces for training in the Philippines is constitutional, the country's Supreme Court has ruled. The decision came amid tension between China and the Philippines over a territorial row in the South China Sea. Under the 10-year deal, the US will be allowed to build structures; store and position weapons and defence supplies; and station troops, civilian personnel and defence contractors in the Philippines.