MANILA, Philippines — Human rights and militant groups are calling for the immediate release of two activists arrested by the police during rallies commemorating the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Details of the Arrest:
- The Detainees: Edel Parducho (Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates or Pahra) and Three Odeña (Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan or SPARK).
- Charges: The pair is being held by the Mandaluyong police for alleged assault, resistance, and disobedience to persons in authority.
- Incident: The arrests occurred during a scuffle after police attempted to push protesters from EDSA lanes onto the sidewalk. Groups claim Parducho was acting as a marshal protecting women and families of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims, while Odeña was documentation the event when she was allegedly pulled by the hair and arrested.
Arguments from Groups:
- Pahra & Sanlakas: Labeled the charges “fabricated” and “baseless,” asserting that video evidence contradicts police claims of physical injury. They accused the police of using “unjustified excessive force.”
- SPARK: Alleged that police tried to seize Odeña’s camera before her arrest to stop her from documenting “police brutality.”
- Bayan: Accused the police of intentionally disrupting the peaceful protest by removing their sound system and makeshift stage.
PNP Defense:
- PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. defended the officers, stating they followed proper procedures and exercised “maximum tolerance.”
- Casualties: The PNP reported that seven police officers were injured during the scuffle, claiming protesters threw stones and disrupted traffic.
- Justification: Nartatez clarified, “We are not arresting them for their beliefs. We are arresting them for specific violations of the law.”
Context:
The rallies were part of the 40th-anniversary celebrations of the 1986 revolution that overthrew Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Two separate major rallies were held at the People Power Monument and the EDSA Shrine.