Malacañang involved in global protests vs China?

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Wednesday denied involvement in the protests staged by groups of Filipinos against China's territorial claims on the West Philippine Sea.

At a televised press briefing, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Palace does not have a hand on the protests held by Filipinos here and abroad.

"All the actions taken by the individual citizens wherever they are from, whether here or abroad, these are the actions taken by the Filipinos on how they view the situation," said Lacierda.

On Wednesday, some 2,000 protesters from 30 cause-oriented groups led by the West Philippine Sea Coalition converged at the Chinese Consular Office along Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City.

The groups said that Wednesday's mass action was the second "Global Day of Protest" as it was staged simultaneously with similar protests abroad.

Related story: Protesters mark 2nd day of global action vs. China

The group US Pinoys for Good Governance earlier said the protest will be against China's "unilateral proclamation" of West Philippine Sea to be part of the new Sansha City Prefecture, which is based at Woody Island in the Paracels.

It said that protests were also held in front of the United Nation's headquarters in New York City and in front the Chinese embassy and consulate in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, California.

In Manila, a small group of Vietnamese joined the protest, waving an anti-China banner. They said they could not easily stage protests in their country because of state restrictions on such public assemblies.

"I take this as a golden chance to be here and to raise our voice," said 24-year-old Ngo Van Kha, who is from Hanoi. "We Vietnamese like to stand beside you in this struggle against an aggressive China."

Also taking part in the rally was former Philippine Interior Secretary Raffy Alunan, who said Beijing's aggressive claims have brought it bad publicity and led to a U.S. decision to reassert its presence in Asia.

"It's important for China to understand that if it is not seen as a troublemaker and seen as a country that is out to dominate other nations, effects like the (U.S.) Asian pivot and the building of coalitions to deal with China on territorial disputes will not be happening, including our protest," Alunan said. -With Jim Gomez, Associated Press