Two human rights defenders were arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the 40th anniversary commemoration of the People Power Revolution at the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City on February 25, 2026.
Edel Parducho, a development and human rights worker with the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), and Three Odeña, a youth activist with Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), were arrested and detained by the PNP Eastern Police District in Mandaluyong City.
Both have been released on bail, but the charges against them are still ongoing and continue to violate their rights, reported PAHRA. They face charges including physical injury, direct assault, resisting arrest, and illegal assembly.
Kabataan Partylist condemned the arrests as unjust, saying they reflect the ongoing suppression of the people’s right to peaceful assembly. According to Kabataan Representative Atty. Renee Co, video evidence shows Parducho acting as a marshal, helping shield mothers from being shoved by police, while Odeña was merely taking photos when officers pulled his hair and arrested him.
The PNP justified the arrests, citing public safety concerns and claims that some protesters disrupted traffic.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International Philippines, PAHRA, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), condemned the arrests as arbitrary and baseless and called for an independent investigation into police conduct.
The rally drew thousands of participants, including church workers, lawmakers, and veteran activists demanding accountability for the ongoing corruption and abuses of power.
Photo © PAHRA