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Protesters from the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) who are currently gathered on EDSA intend to occupy the thoroughfare until Mon, Aug 31.
“GMA News’ Mariz Umali reported this development on the late night news show Saksi on Fri, Aug 28, as members of the church continued to mass up, rendering the northbound lane of EDSA-Ortigas impassable to vehicles,” reports GMA News Online.
The report noted that the INC protesters “managed to occupy EDSA despite the lack of a rally permit from the Quezon City government.”
It may be recalled that the INC’s mass action began on Thu, Aug 27, in Manila, where thousands of members “spoke out against what they called Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s meddling in the group’s internal affairs.”
The DOJ, as the report indicated, “is looking into charges filed by former Iglesia ni Cristo minister Isaias Samson Jr. against the religious group’s officials for allegedly detaining and harassing him and his family — an accusation denied by Iglesia ni Cristo officials.”
In a statement, the INC said that they are “merely defending religious freedom and is not putting itself above the state.”
The report likewise added: “The church’s spokesman Edwil Zabala clarified an earlier report, saying that they were not calling for De Lima’s resignation. Instead, he said, they merely want her to perform her duties properly.”
Photo: Divine Reyes, dzBB
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