PASIG CITY – Two protesters were arrested Tuesday after a confrontation between demonstrators and police during simultaneous events marking the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution and the Trillion Peso March Part 3.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) set up barricades along portions of EDSA, particularly near southbound lanes and the EDSA-Ortigas intersection, to manage traffic and crowd movement amid expectations of a large turnout.
Eastern Police District (EPD) legal officer Maj. Michael Justin Baldugo said authorities were enforcing a truck ban and preventing road obstruction.
“Ang pinipigilan lang po namin ang truck lang po, sir,” Baldugo said, adding that protesters were otherwise allowed to hold their rally.
“Pwede po sila magrally,” he said. He cited provisions of the law allowing assemblies on private property, freedom parks, and public spaces, provided organizers secure the necessary permits.
Protesters from progressive and cause-based groups had gathered along EDSA and attempted to proceed toward designated rally points, including the EDSA Shrine. Tensions escalated in the afternoon when some groups tried to move past or dismantle police barricades.
Video contributed by Joshua Isaac Español
National media reports said portions of southbound EDSA were blocked as protesters sought to continue their march, prompting police to push back to keep traffic flowing.
Authorities alleged that some demonstrators refused to follow instructions on which lanes they could occupy.
Police said the two arrested individuals, identified as members of Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) and the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), are in the custody of the EPD. The PNP alleged they were involved in hitting police personnel during the scuffle, though specific charges were still being processed.
Activist groups disputed the police account, saying protesters were defending themselves amid what they described as aggressive crowd control measures.
Unequal Treatment
The handling of the two simultaneous events drew criticism from organizers and activists, who said authorities applied rules inconsistently.
“Di ko mainitindihan etong mga police eh, mukhang nalilito sila… mukhang walang klarong kaisahan,” labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman said.
Leody and other demonstrators said the difference in permits forced stricter policing and barricades for EDSA 40 attendees, even though both events occurred along the same highway.
“Di nila maipaliwanag na mas convenient para sa traffic na nasa ilalim tayo kasi may flyover naman,” de Guzman added.
Protesters argued the discrepancy highlights unequal treatment by authorities and contributes to tensions during overlapping demonstrations.
