EDSA rally crowd estimate now at 13,000 -- NCRPO

The crowd estimate of the protesters who gathered in the vicinity of the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City rose to 13,000 on Tuesday afternoon, impeding traffic as Metro Manila moved closer to its rush hour grind.

Police Major General Anthony Aberin, regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said this was the count as of 3 p.m., or about 13 hours since they started gathering in the area.

The Quezon City Police District, which is under the command of the NCRPO, had pegged the crowd size at 10,000 as of 11 a.m.

"Ang pakiusap lang po natin ay pairalin po natin ang disiplina sa ating hanay at sumunod po sa mga alituntunin na inilalatag po ng inyong Philippine National Police para makaiwas po tayo sa mga potential na problema," Aberin said.

(Our request is that discipline and rules are observed so we can avoid potential problems.)

Aberin is a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC). He said his affiliation with the INC will not hinder him from fulfilling his constitutional duties with regard to maintaining security in the rally.

"Although of course, although INC tayo, we will abide by the Constitution we are fully duly constituted," Aberin said.

(Although of course, although I am a member of the INC, we will abide by the Constitution we are fully duly constituted.)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has instructed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to observe maximum tolerance with regard to the protest action.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has directed the Philippine National Police to exercise maximum tolerance in handling the protest.

Earlier, the Quezon City Police District said the rally permit for INC members at the EDSA People Power Monument had been approved until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it continues to coordinate with the PNP to monitor the situation and appealed to organizers to ensure the public is not unduly inconvenienced by the ongoing mobilization.— with a report from Vince Angelo Ferreras/VDV/MCG, GMA News