At least 2 nabbed amid EDSA rally tensions

A police officer was injured while at least two individuals were arrested after tensions escalated during the EDSA rally on Tuesday.

According to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the officer was hurt after being caught during a back-and-forth movement of a van that had allegedly attempted to block the EDSA bus lane.

A police official told Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad that the incident happened as authorities tried to clear the bus lane, which had been occupied by rally participants.

“May sugatan po tayong pulis dahil naipit po kanina sa pag-atras-abante ng van in their attempt to block the pathway ng bus lane,” the official said.

(We have a police officer injured because he was caught in the back-and-forth motion of a van in their attempt to block the pathway of the bus lane.)

Tow truck

The official added that a tow truck also became caught in the commotion.

When asked what triggered the tension, the official said police had attempted to clear the bus lane because it was being occupied.

“Tinulak natin kasi in-occupy nila itong bus lane. Ayaw nila magpagalaw. ’Yan po ’yung stunt nila, ipahahatak ’yung bus,” the official said.

(We were trying to move it because it occupied the bus lane. They didn’t want to move. That was their stunt; they had the bus towed.)

Authorities also confirmed that those arrested were among the individuals who were inside the van involved in the back-and-forth movement.

“May naaresto. Sila po ’yung nasa loob ng van kanina na nag-atras-abante,” the official said.

(Someone has been arrested. They were the ones inside the van earlier that was moving back and forth.)

The injured police officer has been brought to a hospital for treatment.

Assault

In a separate report, two individuals had also been arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers during the incident, although he later observed that more individuals were being taken into custody as tensions rose.

Police have yet to confirm the final number of arrests.

Pushing and shoving broke out between police and some participants, with authorities alleging that officers were punched during the confrontation. Some of those who were in the rally, however, denied the accusations and insisted that those arrested had done nothing wrong. —Sherylin Untalan/ VAL, GMA News