IN PHOTOS: Iglesia Ni Cristo protesters converge near Edsa Shrine

Carrying their signs and banners that read “Freedom of Religion” and “Separation of Church and State”, thousands of INC members swarmed the northbound lane of Edsa near Edsa Shrine on Friday night.

The INC members turned up to protest the supposed “extraordinary attention” given by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to the illegal detention case filed by expelled INC minister Isaias Samson Jr. on Tuesday.

Creating massive traffic along the major thoroughfares including Ortigas Avenue and Shaw Boulevard, the protest prompted National Capital Region Police Office to raise the full alert status starting 6 pm Friday.

Earlier, the protesters gathered in front of the DOJ building on Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila.

Below are the photos of the rally taken by Inquirer photographers Rem Zamora and Lyn Rillon. Arvin Mendoza, TVJ