Government authorities declared the iconic site of the uprising that deposed the Ferdinand Marcos Sr. dictatorship four decades ago a “no rally zone” last Wednesday, but the youth was having nothing of it.
As the police blocked their path towards Manila’s EDSA Shrine in yesterday’s commemoration of the historic 1986 event, the activists, by their tens of thousands, tried negotiating for hours, pointing out the irony of the ban.
But when the police ordered the towing of the truck carrying their public address system, the protesters have had enough and decided to take matters into their own hands.
The activists slammed into the phalanx of shield and baton-wielding officers, sweeping them aside like puny matchsticks, clearing the way to their destination.
The youth’s victory did not come easily. Youth activist Three Odeña and Philippine alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) member Edel Parducho were arrested.
They were charged with “physical injury” by the police, an accusation being contested by PAHRA based on videos and witness accounts. They remain in jail as of Thursday morning.
Even as the protesters have already reached the shrine, the police, embarrassed by their failure, tried arresting more activists, sparking periodic clashes while the rally was already ongoing.
But the youth, comprising as much as 85 to 90 percent of the protesters, effectively defended their ranks until the event’s conclusion by five o’clock in the afternoon.
READ: Rally denial at EDSA Shrine ‘Marcosian,’ Bayan asserts
The police said its rally ban order was based on Batas Pambansa 880, also known as the No-Permit-No-Rally edict by Marcos Sr.
People Power defeats another Marcos
Main rally organizer Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN, New Patriotic Alliance) said Wednesday’s version of People Power defeated another Marcos.
BAYAN said the no rally zone declaration against the EDSA shrine protest was aimed at protecting Marcos Jr. who, like his father four decades ago, is facing a massive corruption scandal himself.
Marcos, is being blamed for designing and signing into law Philippine national budgets full of questionable allocations and dubbed as the most corrupt in history.
“As we said last week…we assert[ed] people power over police power and state power. And we did. The people successfully defied the police blockade and reached EDSA Shrine,” BAYAN president Renato Reyes Jr. said.
Reyes pointed out the police blockade was totally unnecessary and unjustified.
“It was a display of fascist power on the day we commemorate ‘people power,’” Reyes said.
Everyone welcome at EDSA
Roman Catholic Bishop Gerardo Alminaza opened the rally program, welcoming the protesters who made it to the EDSA Shrine and criticizing the ban.
“EDSA is not owned by any political party or administration. It is not even exclusive to any one generation,” giving a nod to the young majority in the crowd.
The Church leader said the EDSA Shrine is owned by the people and events at the site should not be regarded as a simple traffic issue.
Activities at the site should not be regulated like other ordinary sites, Alminaza said, explaining that the shrine is hallowed ground.
“This place became historic because this is where the people finally asserted their civil liberties — the freedom to assemble, to speak, to pray, and to demand accountability — peacefully but firmly,” Alminaza said.
“EDSA was a flood that washed away fear,” the Bishop added. #