Traslacion 2019 'generally peaceful'

MANILA. Filipino Roman Catholic devotees jostle to kiss and rub with towels the image of the Black Nazarene in a raucous procession to celebrate its feast day Wednesday, January 9, 2019, in Manila, Philippines. (AP)
MANILA. Filipino Roman Catholic devotees jostle to kiss and rub with towels the image of the Black Nazarene in a raucous procession to celebrate its feast day Wednesday, January 9, 2019, in Manila, Philippines. (AP)

THE Traslacion of the Black Nazarene has been generally peaceful, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Police Director Guillermo Eleazar said early Thursday dawn, January 10.

Eleazar said no major untoward incident was recorded during the Traslacion or grand procession of the Black Nazarene, which started Wednesday dawn (January 9) and attended by at least 1.4 million devotees.

He said at least four million people joined the activities, including the pahalik or the kissing of the Black Nazarene image and the mass at the Quirino Grandstand, the hourly masses held at the Quiapo church, and the Traslacion.

“Based on our assessment, it’s better now than before, with the result of peace and order situation and with the result of injuries and casualties, naging mas maayos ngayon kaysa last time but gusto pa natin mas pagandahin pa for Traslacion 2020 (it's more orderly now than last time, but we want to further improve the Traslacion 2020),” Eleazar told reporters.

“No untoward incident tayo; wala tayong casualties except meron tayo 740 devotees [who] got minor injuries [and were] provided medical assistance. Basically, generally peaceful tayo,” he added.

The 6.15-kilometer procession of the Black Nazarene lasted for a total of 21 hours and seven minutes, which is 57 minutes faster than that of last year.

Eleazar commended the other concerned agencies who assisted them in maintaining the peace and order in the entire Manila during the feast.

“Naging maayos dahil lahat ng concerned agencies ay ginawa nila ang kanilang mga assignments dito...We deploy around 7,200 na kapulisan. Andito ang kapulisan more than one day na walang palitan ng uniporme, walang tulugan, walang pahinga. I would like to commend ang ating kapulisan at pati na din ang mga media na sumasama sa atin,” he said.

But Eleazar said they will consider creating a technical working group who will have scientific method in identifying the crowd estimate in such big events.

Filipino devotion has again been on full display during the feast of the Black Nazarene.

Millions of devotees joined the procession; some of them were pulling the rope, hurling towels, and even climbing the andas that carried the four-century-old image.

Devotees usually seek to pull or hold the rope connected to the andas or the carriage, signifying the sharing of the burden of Jesus during his passion. (SunStar Philippines)

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