Devotion trumps terror

MANILA, Philippines - More than a million mostly barefoot Catholics ignored reported terror threats and joined the annual procession of the centuries-old statue of the Black Nazarene yesterday.

Manila police estimated about 1.4 million people participated in the Traslacion, the raucous procession of the Black Nazarene, a life-size statue of Jesus Christ carrying a cross.

Authorities imposed a gun ban, prohibited drones and backpacks and jammed cell phone signals along the route of the procession, which was guarded by thousands of police and troops. Snipers kept watch from atop buildings.

Devotees jostled around the andas, the carriage carrying the Black Nazarene, and threw towelettes at volunteers on the carriage to wipe parts of the cross and the statue in the belief that the Nazarene’s mystical powers to cure ailments and provide good health and fortune would rub off on them.

As of 6 p.m. yesterday, over 1,200 people had been reported injured in the procession, according to records of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and the Philippine Red Cross.

Of the cases, 690 were due to high blood pressure while 339 cases complained of toothache, allergies, bruises and abrasions.

MDRRMO chief Johnny Yu said the cases of injury included three women devotees who fell while attempting to climb the andas and nearly got trampled to death. “They suffered bone fractures and contusions.”

Seven devotees were also rushed to the Ospital ng Maynila after steel railings fell on them.

Bomb alert

Telecommunications firms shut down mobile phone services during the Traslacion as requested by security officials because mobile signals can be used to trigger bombs.

At 7:30 a.m. yesterday, the Manila Police District (MPD) responded to a bomb alert at Plaza Sta. Cruz, where a suspicious messenger bag was abandoned in front of Sta. Cruz Church along Ronquillo Street.

Authorities sealed off the area for 20 minutes and checked the bag, which was later found to contain only a Black Nazarene shirt and some personal belongings.

The area, which is part of the Traslacion route, was reopened at 8:30 a.m.

Policemen also arrested a “suspicious-looking suspect” who was carrying a bag containing a set of keys, different identification cards and dozens of compact discs.

The suspect, whose identity was withheld by the police, was interrogated at MPD headquarters.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier warned that local Muslim militants trying to align themselves with the Islamic State group may try to attack the Traslacion.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said authorities have not monitored any specific threat but warned that followers of the extremist leader killed last week may retaliate by attacking the procession.

Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, who led a small but violent Islamic group called Ansar Al Khilafah Philippines, died in a gunbattle with police Thursday in Sarangani province. Three of his companions were captured.

‘Better, orderly Traslacion this year’

After the mass celebrated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and the morning prayer led by Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel, the 411-year-old image of the Black Nazarene was transferred from the stage of the Quirino Grandstand to the andas.

But unlike in previous years when the crowd scrambled to take possession of the image right after the mass, yesterday’s transfer was quick and orderly.

It only took the Hijos del Nazarenos about a minute to transfer the image from the stage of the grandstand to the andas. And it only took them 10 minutes to attach the image to the carriage.

Around 4:30 a.m., the Hijos del Nazareno, policemen and soldiers formed a phalanx in front of the image because the masses already broke loose from their confinement at the Burnham Green section of Rizal Park. But order was still maintained.

The Traslacion started at 5:30 a.m., an hour and a half earlier than the customary 7 a.m. start.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada lauded the millions of devotees for the orderly Traslacion.

“It’s better this year compared to last year. I’m glad that the devotees are very orderly,” Estrada told The STAR.

Estrada attended the midnight mass for the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand.

“I arrived there at 11:30 p.m., attended the midnight mass, and stayed there until 3 a.m. So far, so good. I congratulate the devotees for being very orderly this year. The police and other government agencies that jointly secured the Traslacion also deserve a tap on the shoulder,” he said.

Estrada ordered 600 street sweepers to clean the streets immediately after the procession passed. – With Rey Galupo, Sheila Crisostomo, Ghio Ong, Louella Desiderio, AP