#IglesiaNiCristo members shout De Lima pabebe!" in front of Edsa shrine | @dzIQ990 pic.twitter.com/pL4kE5zXA1
— Inquirer Group (@inquirerdotnet) August 28, 2015
MANILA — Citing “humanitarian reasons,” Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. allowed members of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC, Church of Christ) to stay in Mandaluyong until Monday morning, August 31.
The protest rally along EDSA—Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare—was originally scheduled to end by Sunday midnight, as stated in the initially released permit. The protest started Friday, August 28, causing a monumental traffic jam.
Standing on the make-shift INC stage at Shaw Boulevard, Abalos announced, “Mensahe ko po sa kapulisan: pinapahintulutan ko po sila for humanitarian reasons, magpatila sa Mandaluyong.”
Abalos added that he will personally assist the protesters to Manila, where City Mayor Joseph Estrada granted them a permit to rally until Friday, September 4.
As of recent reports, roughly 15,000 INC members are now along EDSA, with more faithfuls on their way to the city from provinces like Catanduanes and Bicol.