Media Quote
Responding to news that two human rights defenders remain in police custody following arrest during the People Power Revolution anniversary commemoration march, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director, Ritz Lee Santos, III, said:
“The arbitrary arrest and detention of individuals merely exercising their human right to peaceful assembly is unequivocally reprehensible. For the Philippine National Police (PNP) to arrest development worker, Edel Parducho, and youth activist, Three Odeña, during the commemoration of the People Power anniversary, a historical reminder of the Filipino’s collective power to resist repression, mocks its very essence. When it comes to protecting the right to protest, we have come to expect the worst from Marcos, Jr.’s government. Amnesty International Philippines strongly demands their immediate and unconditional release.
Trying to silence every critic of the deplorable human rights situation in the Philippines is a desperate attempt to protect Marcos, Jr.’s fragile reputation.
“Trying to silence every critic of the deplorable human rights situation in the Philippines is a desperate attempt to protect Marcos, Jr.’s fragile reputation. The Department of Justice should instead institute measures to build trust for law enforcement agencies, and facilitate enabling safe protest spaces for human rights defenders to exercise their basic rights to protest freely, without fear of reprisal.
“The recurring pattern of violations to the right to protest and targeting of human rights defenders in the Philippines is well-documented by the UN, Amnesty International, and other human rights organizations locally and internationally. It continues to reveal Marcos, Jr.’s complacency in the deployment of the full machinery of its state forces to punish and suppress dissent. This happens despite the Office of the President’s creation of an HR Super Body in 2024, giving it a mandate to investigate cases on human rights violations, and ensure accountability from state perpetrators. Marcos Jr. is also yet to convey any concrete plans to address UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan’s recommendations to the his government communicated in the middle of last year.
“The continued repression of dissent belies all rhetorics referring to respecting and protecting the right to protest and freedom of expression in this country. Marcos, Jr. must do the actual work and stop merely putting on a perfunctory show. Incidents of arbitrary arrests and detention of human rights defenders and ordinary protesters must be promptly and effectively investigated in an impartial and independent manner, and all those found responsible must be brought to justice in fair trials.”
Background
On 25 Feburary 2026, development worker, Edel Parducho, and young human rights defender, Three Odeña, were arrested and detained by the Philippine National Police Eastern Police District in Mandaluyong City, during the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution commemoration march near EDSA Shrine. According to the urgent action petition released by the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), the two HRDs face charges of physical injury. The report of the arrest was confirmed by PNP’s Director for Operations, Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones during a press briefing on the same day. The two HRDs remain in PNP’s custody.
A prior instance of arbitrary arrests and excessive use of force occurred on 21 September 2025, another historically significant date marking the anniversary of Martial Law. 216 individuals, protesters and bystanders, 91 of whom are children, were arrested and detained during anti-corruption protests in Mendiola. Amnesty’s subsequent data-gathering further detailed the police’s excessive use of force, and behavior amounting to ill-treatment. .