Iglesia ni Cristo crowd at EDSA-Shaw starting to grow

Published August 30, 2015 4:31pm

(Updated 7:37 p.m.) Thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo members have started joining the protest action at EDSA-Shaw on Sunday afternoon.

As of 4:15 p.m., the Eastern Police District (EPD) said the crowd estimate at EDSA-Shaw was 4,000.

As of 4:15 crowd estimate- 4,000 @NCRPOReact @PNPhotline pic.twitter.com/WQpiS1e1sa
— EPD-PIO (@epdpio) August 30, 2015

Fifteen minutes earlier, the crowd estimate was only at 2,700.

In earlier tweets, the EPD's crowd estimate at 3:30 p.m. was 2,000 and at 2 p.m. it was only 1,700.

The Iglesia ni Cristo was able to secure a permit to assemble at EDSA-Shaw until midnight of Sunday.

Radio dzBB's Divine Reyes reported that according to the Iglesia ni Cristo, its officials were already in contact with people from the local government of Mandaluyong City to secure an extension of the permit to assemble until Monday.

Reyes also reported that the Iglesia ni Cristo is also holding a separate negotiation for them to transfer to another place in case the Mandaluyong City Hall junks the application for extension. She said the place is not far from EDSA-Shaw.

A report on "24 Oras Weekend" aired Sunday showed some members of the Iglesia ni Cristo heading to the EDSA Shrine. Footage showed protesters had occupied half of the Ortigas flyover near the shrine, a small Catholic church that marks the site of two popular revolutions.

In an earlier report, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen said Iglesia ni Cristo members from Quiapo have arrived at the corner of Shaw Boulevard and Nueve de Pebrero Street, only a few minutes from EDSA-Shaw.

Nielsen reported that the group from Quiapo was just waiting for other groups from around Manila to join them before they march to EDSA-Shaw.

Iglesia ni Cristo spokesperson Edwil Zabala earlier told GMA News Online in a phone interview that members from their 12 ecclesiastical districts will join the protest action in EDSA.

Radio dzBB reported earlier in the day that Iglesia ni Cristo members from Bicol region, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Zambales and Batangas will also join the crowd at EDSA-Shaw.

Many of the Iglesia protesters have been at EDSA-Shaw, where there is free food, portalets, and mobile phone charging stations, since Friday, a separate "24 Oras Weekend" report said.

The report noted that the permit granted by Mandaluyong City requires protesters to stay within a 1,200-sq.m. area at EDSA-Shaw but that the crowd has already spilled out from their designated area.

"Hinihiling namin ang inyong pakikipag-kooperasyon para magkaroon ng kapayapaan at panatiliin ang maintenance of peace and order dito sa pinagaganapan ng rally ng Iglesia ni Cristo," Sr. Supt. Elmer Jamias, Eastern Police District director, said in the report. —ALG/JDS, GMA News

Tags: iglesianicristo