US President Donald Trump arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday afternoon for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Meetings.
Trump first met President Rodrigo Duterte in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Vietnam last week.
The two were said to have established rapport and seemed to get along well.
Trump, a widely unpopular world leader since he won an electoral-college victory in the 2016 presidential election, is visiting the Philippines for the first time.
Riot police used water canon to prevent hundreds of protesters reaching the US Embassy in Manila on Sunday, just a few hours before the arrival of Trump in the Philippines for a regional summit and the last leg of his Asia tour.
Carrying placards declaring “Dump Trump” and “Down with US Imperialism,” the left-wing protesters were blocked by police in riot gear with shields and batons, and then showered with jets of water from a fire engine.
“Trump is the CEO of the imperialist government of the US, said 18-year-old student Alexis Danday after the
protesters were scattered. “We know he is here to push for unfair treaties between the Philippines and the US.”
Trump arrived in the Philippines for meetings with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other East Asian nations, fresh off an Asia-Pacific summit and bilateral visit in Vietnam.
The Philippines is Trump’s last stop on a marathon tour that has taken him to Japan, South Korea, China as well as Vietnam.
Duterte met Trump on Saturday, Nov. 11, during the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in Ha Noi Hall, International Danang Resort, Vietnam.
“The meeting was warm and cordial,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque during a press briefing held at the International Media Center.
“President Trump reportedly told President Duterte that he will see him tomorrow,” Roque said.
“The two leaders were genuinely pleased to have finally met each other in person,” Roque added.
Leaders from around the world arrived in the country on Sunday ahead of the Asean Summit in Manila.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith was the first to land for the day at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga at 10:37 a.m.
Sisoulith waved to the crowd upon his arrival to attend the Asean Summit and related meetings in Clark, Pampanga, Sunday.
He was welcomed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Pampanga Gov. Lilian Pineda.
Hundreds of students in colorful costumes also performed a dance number for Sisoulith.
Duterte had earlier met Sisoulith in the past two Asean Summits: in Manila last April and in Vientiane, Laos last September.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo meanwhile landed in Pampanga around 12:15 p.m.
Like Duterte, Widodo has waged war against narcotics.
The number of suspected drug dealers killed by Indonesian police has more than tripled so far this year from the whole of 2016, activists said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrived after Widodo.
Leaders from 19 countries plus the heads of the United Nations and European Union are set to join the Asean meetings that will run until Tuesday.
Among those attending are Trump, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived in the country on Saturday.
Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan from Southern Tagalog on Sunday marched along Roxas Boulevard and Gil Puyat in Manila to protest the expected arrival of United States President Donald Trump.
At least four buses and three jeepneys full of protesters were initially planning to march toward the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
The militants brought with them a huge flag of the United States but it was not yet clear if they were planning to burn it.
Farmers and peasant leaders from Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia under the Asian Peasant Coalition arrived in Manila to show solidarity with Filipino farmers who are opposing and protesting the visit of US President Donald Trump in Asia and in the Philippines.
The foreign peasant leaders are attending parallel actions against Asean and East Asia Summit (EAS) to be held in Manila.
According to the APC, the EAS will be a staging ground for the economic and political rivalry of superpowers US, China, and Russia at the expense of Southeast Asian farmers and stakeholders in agriculture.
“The trade and political wars of US, China and Russia will overshadow the situation and struggles of South East Asian peasants demanding for land and liberation from land grabbing and monopolization of transnational corporations in the region’s agriculture,” said Zenaida Soriano, regional coordinator for South East Asia of the Asian Peasant Coalition.
“We refuse to become mere spectators as imperialist powers decide on significant economic aspects including energy, education, finance, global health, environment and disaster management,” said Soriano.
“We will assert democracy, sovereignty, social justice and peace in our countries and across Asia. We want a world free from imperialist domination and exploitation,” Soriano said.
