INC ends 5-day protest

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED 9:41 a.m.) — Officials of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) agreed on Monday to end the five-day mass action after talks with government.

"Nagkausap na po ang panig ng Iglesia at panig ng pamahalaan, nagkapaliwanagan na po ang dalawang panig," INC general minister Bienvenido Santiago said in a statement aired on Net 25, an church-run broadcast network.

"Ito pong ating isinagawang pagtitipon na sinimulan natin noong Huwebes ng hapon ay natatapos nang mapayapa rin ngayon pong Lunes ng umaga," Santiago added.

The protests questioned an illegal detention complaint against eight members of the church council, or Sanggunian, filed by expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr. before the Department of Justice late August.

Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo assemble on Sunday night along EDSA, a major thoroughfare crossing Mandaluyong City, as they question the Department of Justice's investigation into alleged illegal detention of some of its expelled members. The five-day protest is set to end by midday on Monday, church officials announced. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

Early on Monday, Protesters initially began to converge outside the Department of Justice building in Manila, as they transferred their protest action from EDSA in Mandaluyong City.

As of posting time, EDSA remains occupied with only two operational lanes for motorists.

Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos said in a radio report that INC demonstrators are expected to have cleared EDSA-Mandaluyong by 11 a.m.

Upon hearing news of the announcement, INC members along EDSA expressed gratitude and claimed victory, saying the mass action was "successful."

"Mabuhay ang Iglesia ni Cristo!" the rallyists cheered. — reports from Camille Diola, Efigenio Toledo IV and Robertzon Ramirez