PNP Chief Defends Arrests During Edsa Revolution 40th Anniversary Commemoration
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has publicly defended the arrest of two protesters during the 40th anniversary commemoration of the Edsa People Power Revolution, asserting that police actions were lawful and necessary to maintain order.
Confrontation at Edsa Shrine
The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, as various groups gathered near the Edsa Shrine in Quezon City to mark the historic 1986 revolution that restored democracy in the Philippines. According to the PNP, a confrontation erupted between rallyists and police officers deployed to the event.
Nartatez emphasized that police were under strict orders to observe maximum tolerance in dealing with protesters. 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, he stated during a press briefing on Thursday, February 26.
Details of the Arrests
Police reported that a man and a woman, both of legal age, were arrested after allegedly throwing stones at officers and disrupting traffic along the southbound lane of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) leading to the shrine. Authorities had requested the rallyists to confine their activity to one lane to prevent worsening traffic congestion.
During the altercation, seven police officers sustained minor injuries, including bruises and cuts. Nartatez maintained that the arrests were conducted lawfully, with only minimal force applied. Ang pag-aresto ay ginawa ayon sa batas. Kung may nagamit mang pwersa, it was only the minimum amount necessary to subdue the individuals and prevent further injury to both the protesters and our officers, he explained.
Legal Charges and Criticism
The two individuals are facing multiple complaints, including:
- Direct assault
- Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority
- Alarm and scandal
- Violation of the Public Assembly Act
Police noted that the group involved had not secured a permit for the activity. Addressing criticism from some sectors, Nartatez reiterated the PNP's respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly but drew a firm line at acts of violence. Pero kailangang tandaan, your rights end when violence begins. Human rights do not include the right to assault police officers or cause a public disturbance. We are not arresting them for their beliefs. We are arresting them for specific violations of the law, he asserted.
The situation at the Edsa Shrine as of 3 p.m. on February 25 was marked by this tension, highlighting the ongoing challenges in balancing public safety with democratic rights during commemorative events.
