EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Tens and thousands of Filipinos held a peaceful marched through the centre of Manila and other cities on Monday (August 26) to demand the abolition of a misused fund for legislators' pet projects, the biggest protest aimed at Benigno Aquino's government.
Police said around 60,000 protesters converged on Manila's largest park to protest "pork barrel" spending under the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
The money is frequently channelled to projects solely to impress voters, though many have turned out to be non-existent.
Aquino said on Friday (August 23) the government would plug leaks in the fund, an announcement apparently timed to preempt Monday's march, and a presidential spokesman said the protesters and government wanted the same thing.
About 1,500 police were deployed, but no incidents were reported.
