MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of demonstrators protesting the Middle East conflict and the planned visit of U.S. President Donald Trump clashed with police in Manila on Sunday as they tried to march toward the venue of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. Officers blocked the demonstrators from reaching the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) complex, where the regional gathering is taking place. Reuters report via ABS-CBN and GMA News reported the confrontation.
The march began around Liwasang Bonifacio, with demonstrators seeking to bring their grievances closer to the summit venue in nearby Pasay City. GMA News reported that nine people were arrested, citing accounts from protest organizations, while Anadolu Agency reported at least two injuries and said police initially took at least five people into custody. The different figures reflect separate accounts as the incident developed; authorities and organizers had not presented a single reconciled tally in the reports available Sunday. GMA News | Anadolu Agency
Protest leaders said the demonstrations were driven in part by opposition to the war in Iran and the economic pressure they believe the conflict is placing on Filipino households, including higher prices and broader cost-of-living concerns. New Patriotic Alliance chairperson Teddy Casiño also criticized the Marcos administration for welcoming visiting foreign leaders while, in his view, restricting the ability of Filipinos to express their concerns. The group’s message to Trump was that he was not welcome in the country. These statements represent the protesters’ position and allegations, rather than independently established findings about the causes of domestic price increases or police conduct. Reuters video report and interview transcript | ABS-CBN
The protest also reflects wider opposition to the proposed Pax Silica initiative, a U.S.-backed effort focused on securing supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals and artificial intelligence technologies. Activists have raised concerns about the proposed industrial hub in New Clark City, including possible displacement of Indigenous communities and environmental damage. The Philippine government has previously said the project will not host artificial-intelligence data centers, while critics continue to question its land, environmental and geopolitical implications. AFP via Africanews | GMA News
Police had said ahead of the summit that they would apply maximum tolerance but would not allow demonstrators to approach the secured venue. The government deployed nearly 23,000 security personnel for the summit, including more than 19,000 police officers, according to reporting by Anadolu Agency. Police officials urged organizers to coordinate with authorities and use designated areas to conduct rallies, while rights groups argued that restrictions should not prevent peaceful assembly and public criticism. Anadolu Agency | GMA News
The 49th ASEAN Summit runs from November 15 to 17, with regional leaders expected to discuss the Middle East, Myanmar’s continuing conflict, disputes in the South China Sea and the economic consequences of global instability. Trump is expected to arrive in Manila on Tuesday, November 17, after the main summit sessions, and take part in meetings with ASEAN leaders and the Quad grouping of the United States, Japan, Australia and India. He is also scheduled to meet Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday. Associated Press | GMA News
The clashes place the right to protest and the security demands of a high-profile diplomatic summit in sharp focus. With demonstrations expected to continue during the gathering, the response of Philippine authorities may shape public debate over civil liberties, the country’s relationship with Washington and the wider economic and political consequences of conflicts beyond Southeast Asia. Associated Press | Reuters via ABS-CBN