Police stop 30 placard-carrying protesters in EDSA

MANILA, Philippines - Police stopped on Wednesday a small group of protesters joining the "EDSA Tayo" protest at the EDSA Shrine.

Quezon City Police District head Chief Superintendent Richard Albano said policemen stopped the group, numbering around 30, near EDSA-Santolan because they were carrying posters and streamers bearing political statements.

"They (protesters) were allowed after they put away the political banners. The organizers do not want the prayer vigil to be a political rally," Albano told philstar.com.

He added that the organizers have secured a permit for the prayer vigil from the Quezon City government but with certain conditions, such as the event would be peaceful and would not snarl traffic snarls on EDSA.

As of this posting, police said there were already 400 people gathered at the Edsa Shrine and at the People Power Monument.

Authorities are expecting the number to increase late afternoon.