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Anti-Govt Rally in Manila as President Urges 'People-Centered' Growth

© REUTERS / Cheryl GagalacProtesters burn an effigy during a rally near the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Manila November 19, 2015
Protesters burn an effigy during a rally near the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Manila November 19, 2015 - Sputnik International
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Hundreds marched against the Philippine government and the current Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit underway in the country's capital Manila, a Sputnik correspondent reported Thursday.

MANILA (Sputnik) – The latest demonstrations follow last week’s rallies organized by the People’s Campaign Against APEC and Imperialist Globalization, despite a government ban on protests during the APEC Summit week.

"Actually, these protests are rather against the government than APEC," a bystander told Sputnik.

Protesters claim the government is not protecting the national interests of the Philippines, suggesting that the country has become a battleground between the United States and China, sidelining the Philippines' territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.

President Benigno Aquino, meanwhile, called in remarks to APEC Economic Leaders on Thursday for a "holistic" growth agenda.

"Building on APEC’s achievements over the past generation, the Philippines hosts APEC with a people-centered agenda that embraces all segments of society as invaluable participants in a growth that is holistic," Aquino said.

Members of Bayan (My Country) activist group burn a mock U.S. flag near the U.S. embassy, to protest the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting next week in Manila, November 12, 2015 - Sputnik International
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Anti-US Protesters Rally at APEC Summit in Philippines
Security measures were strengthened at the start of the summit last week, and reinforced on Monday when the APEC CEOs arrived in Manila.

At the moment, heavy security is preventing street protesters from approaching the summit's venues. Protesters primarily chant anti-government slogans.

"We will not allow them to approach the APEC venue," a policeman next to the protesters told Sputnik.

Later reports said demonstrators attempted to reach the summit venue by breaking through baton-wielding police deploying lines of shields.

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