Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Nazarene devotee injured in stampede dies
MANILA -- Another male devotee of the Black Nazarene, who was among those injured in the stampede that marred a procession of the religious image in Quiapo, Manila last Monday, died Tuesday morning, bringing to two the number of fatalities in the incident.
Ricardo Escubido, of Navotas, Metro Manila, passed away at 10 a.m. Tuesday due to respiratory failure, according to doctors at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
Reynante Martinez, earlier identified as Dante, died on Monday of severe contusions after he fell and got trampled upon by devotees during the stampede.
PGH officials asked the family of Escubido to claim the victim's body.
The devotees rushed toward the image of the Black Nazarene when it was brought out of the church for the procession. They believe that rubbing the image with any piece of cloth or merely touching the ropes that tug the carroza bearing the image has miraculous benefits.
The statue was brought to Manila by a Mexican priest in 1606 and the religious image has been housed at the St. John the Baptist Church in Quiapo since 1787.
Police said 20 people were also brought to the PGH after they sustained contusions after the stampede.
The feast day of the Black Nazarene is every January 9. (JFF/Sunnex)
(January 11, 2006 issue)
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