Youth group calls for release of EDSA 40th anniv protesters

A youth group on Thursday demanded authorities to release two protesters arrested during the EDSA People Power Revolution 40th anniversary rally at EDSA-Ortigas.

Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) members on Thursday gathered at the Mandaluyong Police headquarters to condemn the arrest of Three Odeña and Edel Parducho while their inquest proceedings were ongoing.

“Our comrade, Three was peacefully documenting the attempts by the Philippine National Police to cut off our contingent from our march to Ortigas when her arresting officer suddenly shoved and pulled her hair multiple times before being forcefully arrested by the police,” SPARK spokesperson Milo Basuel said.

“Before her arrest, stationed police officers were already trying to seize Three’s camera as she documented the brutality unleashed on youth activists,” Basuel added.

For the group, the arrest of the two protesters on Wednesday was police brutality and suppression of freedom of expression.

SPARK said that the “trumped-up cases” against the two were “mere pretenses to cover up police brutality enacted by the Eastern Police District” during the rally on Wednesday.

GMA News Online reached out to the Mandaluyong Police and Eastern Police District for their statements on the matter but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

PNP Directorate for Operations chief Police Brigadier General Ponce Rogelio Peñones earlier said that a small group allegedly threw objects at cops before the program started at the EDSA Shrine.

Authorities arrested two individuals who were placed in police custody. 

At least three police officers sustained minor injuries, including bruises, lacerations, and concussion, according to Peñones.

Peñones said the arrested protesters may face complaints such as direct assault, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, alarm and scandal, and violations of local ordinances.

He said the confrontation stemmed from efforts to manage traffic along the southbound lane of EDSA near Ortigas, where some protesters without a permit allegedly tried to occupy the entire southbound lane.—AOL, GMA Integrated News