Tensions escalated between protesters and police on Wednesday, Feb. 25, as rallyists made their way from EDSA-Ortigas toward the EDSA Shrine during the “EDSA 40: Tuloy ang Laban sa Korapsyon at Kahirapan” mobilization.

Police installed barricades along the southbound lane of EDSA to stop the group from proceeding.

One rallyist was arrested after members of progressive groups dismantled the barricade, leading to a brief confrontation.

The detained protesters maintained that they were merely defending themselves.

“At siyempre de-defense po kami ngayon. Sa sobrang ayaw po magpadaan ng mga pulis ay nasa linya naman kami. Tumutulak po sila. Siyempre po nasa gilid kami, sasalag po kami. Hindi naman po kami nagpapatulak doon, matutumba lang po kami doon. Kawawa naman po yung mga kasama namin (Of course, we were defending ourselves. The police refused to let us pass even though we were within our line. They were pushing us. Since we were on the side, we had to brace ourselves. We were not pushing back because we would fall. Our companions would be the ones to suffer),” the protester said.

Following the incident, the group later continued its march toward the EDSA Shrine to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Leaders of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) opposed the declaration of the EDSA Shrine as a rally-free zone, saying the denial of a permit contradicts the ideals of People Power.