Martial Law protesters say rally reached 15,000; PNP claims it had just 3,000

The Luneta rally condemning former President Ferdinand Marcos' Martial Law and likening it to the Duterte administratiom due to alleged unabated human rights violation gathered 15,000 protesters per the organizers, but the police only pegged them at 3,000 at most.

Organizers repeatedly said they have reached 15,000 as of 6 p.m. but Police Supt. Jay Dimaandal who is manning the command post said it was only at 3,000 at peak based on how much space of Roxas Boulevard was occupied by the protesters.

WATCH: Protesters arrive at Luneta pic.twitter.com/AIB6MFWxlH

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Students, teachers, unions come together to mark the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines. They chant, “Never again to Martial Law” pic.twitter.com/noGdLW6Cd1

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"3,000 ang peak. Nasukat namin ito eh. Every square meter ng Roxas, four persons. Kung napuno nila ang Roxas, end to end, 20,000 'yun," Dimaandal told GMA News Online.

More art vs. Duterte, Arroyo, Marcos pic.twitter.com/9xPJeHEBRe

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"Yung na occupy nila sa Roxas, mga good for 3,000. Ngayon [na alas otso na], 800 na lang," Dimaandal added.

PNP Spokesperson Benigno Durana earlier said that the prostesters are affiliated with the communists.

Dimaandal, however, stopped short of calling the protesters as communists.

"Wala po kaming authority na magsabi. Ordinaryo lang 'yang [mga nasa protesta]. Lagi naman kami nagduduty rito eh," Dimaandal said. —JST, GMA News