NCRPO: At least 800,000 devotees join Traslacion as of Wednesday morning

At least 800,000 devotees have joined the Traslacion, the procession of the Black Nazarene image, on Wednesday morning, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said.

"Ganu'n ang binabato ng mga commanders sa field... Parang umaabot ng 500 [thousand]. Kanina nag-peak ng almost 800 [thousand]," Eleazar said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Eleazar: Kanina nag-peak sa 800,000 (devotees) base sa estimate.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 9, 2019

Eleazar however said that the numbers are estimates. "Hindi eksakto," he clarified.

"May mga ibang naiwan na rin sa Quirino Grandstand. 'Yung iba, umuwi na," Eleazar said.

The NCRPO chief said many more devotees are waiting along the route to be taken by the Traslacion.

"Marami tayong inaasahan along the route. Meron pong ibang mag-aabang. Now we can say 500,000 ito pong ating prusisyon," Eleazar said.

Eleazar: We can say 500,000 (devotees) itong ating prusisyon.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 9, 2019

"Mayroon tayong 40,000 na tao nandu'n sa Quiapo Church area," he said.

No untoward incidents

So far, the Traslacion and the Pahalik, the kissing of the feet of the Black Nazarene image held at Quirino Grandstand since Tuesday, have been peaceful, he added.

"Since kahapon wala namang untoward incidents, kahit mga petty crimes na nangyari," Eleazar said.

"Kanina nakaalis [ang imahe] nang as scheduled, I think mga 10 minutes or nine minutes after 5 o'clock," he added.

"Medyo mabagal lang. Hindi natin sinusukat 'yung tagal ng pagpunta doon [pabalik sa Quiapo Church] as long as makarating nang maayos," Eleazar said.

The Traslacion last year took 23 hours, he added.

The NCRPO chief said they have divided the route of the Traslacion into 10 segments for monitoring and control purposes.

"Halos patapos na 'yung Segment 2 at papasok na sa Segment 3," he said.

At 9:47 a.m., the image of the Black Nazarene has reached the Manila City Hall.

Ang andas ng Imahen ng Itim na Nazareno ay nakarating na sa may Manila City Hall. #Nazareno2019.
https://t.co/k0F4S0D5q5

— GMA News (@gmanews) January 9, 2019

Eleazar said based on previous years' Traslacion, the procession moves slowly along wide roads, but goes fast in narrower roads nearer to Quiapo Church.

The NCRPO chief said they have deployed 7,200 police officers and 2,000 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines along the route.

"Plus marami pang iba galing sa iba't ibang ahensiya natin, medical team and other support elements," he said.

"Sa tulong ng ating mga kababayan not only the devotees but pati 'yung mga spectators, magiging maayos itong ating andas, Traslacion na ginagawa," Eleazar said.

Fainting

"Wala naman po [na nadisgrasya]," Eleazar said, when asked about any injuries among devotees.

"Minor incidents na nahihimatay, may konting paltos sa paa. These are expected naman po talaga sa dami ng tao talaga," he said.

The Manila Paramedics team said that over a hundred people have been brought to several medical stations along the 6.2-kilometer Traslacion route as of 8:30 a.m. due to fainting, difficulty in breathing, hypertension, lacerations, abrasion, and slumping among others.

Signal

Eleazar said the cellphone signals, which have been jammed for security purposes, will be restored after crowds disperse.

"'Pag na-disperse at natapos na [babalik ang signal]," he said.

"Hinihingi natin ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan," Eleazar said, adding that the country is under a state of lawless violence.

"We won't take chances... May konting inconvenience," he said.

Eleazar said the cancellation of classes in Manila and Quezon City has helped decongest traffic.

"Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga Lungsod na Maynila at Quezon. Wala ng klase. Malaking bagay po 'yon para hindi makadagdag sa mga mai-inconvenience dahil sa traffic dahil napakaraming kalsada na hindi madaanan," he added.

Vendors

Eleazar said he has ordered segment commanders to monitor closely the route of the Traslacion and keep vendors away.

Eleazar on ambulant vendors along Traslación route: 'Yun pong sa pagtitinda eh since kagabi patuloy nating binibigyan ng instruction [ang segment commanders] na puntahan.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 9, 2019

He noted that vendors keep out of sight when police are around but come back after they leave. 

"Parang hide and seek 'yan eh. Pagdaan mo, babalik na naman," he said.

However, he said that the number of vendors has gone down as compared before.

"Malaking kabawasan kaysa dati," he said.

The Traslacion, an annual tradition among Catholic devotees, is expected to end at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, based on the schedule of activities released by the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church). —KG, GMA News