Iglesia ni Cristo crowds on Edsa swell to 15,000—police

Members of the religious sect Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) shout slogans during a protest against the Justice Department, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015 in the suburban Mandaluyong city east of Manila, Philippines. The sect members, who earlier camped out for two days in Manila, are accusing Justice Secretary Leila De Lima of harassing the congregation by ordering an investigation into what it said false allegations by its expelled members. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

The crowds at the Iglesia ni Cristo rally on Edsa have reached 15,000 as of 10 p.m. Sunday, according to an estimate given by the police.

Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the Philippine National Police, said that around 7,000 INC members had gathered at the Edsa Shaw Boulevard area, 4,000 in the area of SM Megamall and another 4,000 in the vicinity of the Edsa Shrine.

Meanwhile, the Ortigas flyover’s two lanes remained not passable to traffic because of the INC members blocking the road.

Traffic along the service road’s northbound lane underneath the flyover was slow-moving while the southbound lane was closed to traffic, the PNP said. Julie M. Aurelio/Philippine Daily Inquirer