EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />Police said around 60,000 protesters converged on Manila's largest park to protest "pork barrel" spending under the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).<br/> <br />The money is frequently channelled to projects solely to impress voters, though many have turned out to be non-existent.<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />About 1,500 police were deployed, but no incidents were reported.
