MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said the government respects the public’s right to peaceful assembly for the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in November but appealed to groups to refrain from disruptive actions and present a positive image of the country to visiting foreign delegates.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro appealed to demonstrators to keep their ASEAN Summit protests peaceful, emphasizing that her appeal was a request rather than a directive.
"Again, what the president wants to say to our countrymen is that your right to call, to say your opinions, is a right. This is not prohibited," Castro said in Filipino.
"However, having an event like this will show what kind of people we are. It is better to welcome our guests, and if you have something to say, you can say it another day," she added.
During the martial law declaration anniversary protest in Manila on Monday, activists said they will stage mass demonstrations during the summit if U.S. President Donald Trump attends if the Philippines signs onto the U.S.-led "Pax Silica" initiative.