Quezon City Public Order and Safety Department chief Ret. Gen. Elmo San Diego on Tuesday said the gathering at the People Power Monument (PPM) along EDSA, led by members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), has no permit from the local government.

"They are illegal," San Diego told the Daily Tribune, adding that authorities were surprised to learn that the INC staged a lightning rally at the PPM without applying for a permit for the assembly.

San Diego said they have monitored similar activities in Manila, with INC members carrying placards expressing their disapproval of the Office of the Ombudsman's move to charge Senator Rodante Marcoleta, an INC member.

"Nevertheless, their activity is illegal, and we have to recalibrate how to reroute EDSA traffic, which was stalled by their actions," San Diego explained.

He added that police forces have been augmented as ordered by Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Around 3,000 INC members converged as early as 6 a.m. and inched their way toward the PPM but were thwarted by the alert response of the Philippine National Police (PNP), led by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Tension arose when buses carrying INC members occupied portions of EDSA, blocking traffic flow, including along the EDSA Busway.