Police nabs protesters; tensions mark EDSA 40 rally

Police arrested protesters as tensions flared during a rally on Feb. 25 along Edsa to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Before an act at the Edsa Shrine, two demonstrators were arrested following a run-in with police officers tasked with controlling traffic and securing the gathering. 

The arrests, according to the authorities, happened as progressive and sectoral groups gathered along Edsa’s southbound lane close to Rochester Street and then proceeded toward the Edsa-Ortigas overpass.

“A group of rallyists here wanted to occupy the whole southbound lane of Edsa… The flow of traffic should not be affected. That’s why we asked them… if they could just occupy one lane,” Philippine National Police Director for Operations Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones stated in Filipino.

Police said the two arrested individuals, a male and a female of legal age, may face complaints for direct assault, resistance and disobedience to persons in authority, alarms and scandals, and violation of Batas Pambansa No. 880 or the Public Assembly Act.

The National Capital Region Police Office later reported that seven police personnel were injured as of 3:45 p.m., including three hurt during tensions along Edsa and others at the People Power Monument and the Edsa Shrine.

In a statement released on Feb. 26, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said officers were directed to observe maximum tolerance but had to act when personnel were allegedly assaulted and public safety was at risk.

“Our protocols are clear: we exercise maximum tolerance. However, when our personnel are physically assaulted or when the safety of the public is at risk, we must act to restore order,” Nartatez said.

A detained protester, however, disputed police accounts, saying that the group acted in self-defense as officers pushed against their line after barricades were installed along the southbound lane to prevent them from proceeding toward the shrine.

“Siyempre de-defense po kami ngayon. Sa sobrang ayaw po magpadaan ng mga pulis ay nasa linya naman kami. Tumutulak po sila. Siyempre po nasa gilid kami, sasalag po kami. Hindi naman po kami nagpapatulak doon, matutumba lang po kami doon. Kawawa naman po yung mga kasama namin,” the protester said.

Leaders of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the Eastern Police District initially allowed the gathering near the shrine but later barred the group from holding its program and bringing in a truck to serve as a stage, citing the absence of a permit and a truck ban along Edsa. 

Progressive groups continued their march to commemorate the anniversary of the revolution, and police stated that the event was isolated and described the memorial as mostly peaceful.