The number of Iglesia ni Cristo protesters at the EDSA People Power Monument rose to 14,500 as of around 5 p.m. Tuesday, the National Capital Region Police Office said.
NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo said the crowd may still grow as the rally continued into the evening.
“There is a possibility the number of participants will further increase,” Asilo said in a radio interview.
Despite the growing crowd, Asilo said the NCRPO has not monitored any new untoward incident following a confrontation between police and protesters on Tuesday morning that left three police officers injured.
“As of now, they are holding a program. They are peacefully conducting their program,” she said.
Asilo said authorities have yet to receive information from INC organizers on how long the rally will last.
“Their program is ongoing but there is still no word from them until what time,” she said.
As of 5 p.m., Asilo said the protesters had yet to present a rally permit.
“But this does not mean we are going to disperse them. Just like in the past involving other protesters, we are going to let them hold the protest even if they have no permit… We are letting them finish their program,” she said.
Asilo said around 2,100 police personnel were deployed near the People Power Monument to maintain peace and order.
She said additional police personnel are on standby and ready for deployment if needed.