2 devotees died during Traslacion 2026 - NCRPO

Two devotees of Jesus Nazareno have died amid this year's Traslacion in Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said early Saturday morning.

The NCRPO has not yet released additional information about these deaths, but it has confirmed that the list does not include the photojournalist who passed away on Friday while covering the procession, according to GMA Integrated News reporter Jhomer Apresto.

Hundreds of people have also received medical attention, including vital signs monitoring and treatment for minor wounds, dizziness, abrasions, and sprains, the Philippine Red Cross said.

"As of 7:30 a.m. on January 10, a total of 849 patients have been attended to since January 8, with 19 individuals requiring further medical care safely transported to hospitals," the PRC said in a press release.

Meanwhile, 2,204 devotees along the Traslacion route were given welfare assistance, it added.

At a press conference held early Saturday morning, Nazareno 2026 spokesperson Father Robert Arellano confirmed that two devotees died. 

"For the record, ito po ang confirmed records at this time point in time. We have 1,700 cases, two of which, it was confirmed, are death cases... Sila ay involved sa prusisyon," Fr. Arellano said at the same press briefing.

He said they have no further details yet about the two victims, but more details will be given at the final press conference to be held about the Traslacion.

"Then meron pa tayo isang journalist (na namatay). All in all, tatlo po," Fr. Arellano said.

He however clarified that the photojournalist who passed away was not directly involved in the Traslacion.

The photojournalist, Itoh Son, was covering the Traslacion when he suddenly fell on Friday. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security said Son had been suffering from the flu for days, but he still pushed through with covering the Feast Day.

Fr. Arellano said they are monitoring 29 cases of devotees who suffered health problems during the Traslacion.

"Currently we have 29 cases na closely mino-monitor natin (that we are closely monitoring)," he said.

Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan, parish priest and rector of Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno asked the public for prayers for the safe conduct of the Traslacion or the procession of the image of Jesus Nazareno.

"So please, ilang oras pa bago makarating 'yung ating andas (sa Quiapo Church). I would like to ask and appeal to everyone to say a little prayer na hindi na mag-increase ang casualties at makabalik ang andas sa simbahan, at most especially, makabalik ang mga deboto natin ng ligtas sa kani-kanilang pamilya, sa kani-kanilang tahanan," Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan, parish priest and rector of Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, said in a press conference.

(So please, it will take a few more hours before our andas (carriage) [returns to Quiapo Church]. I would like to ask and appeal to everyone to say a little prayer that the number of casualties will not increase, that the andas will return safely to the church, and most especially, that our devotees will return safely to their families and homes.)

The Traslacion finally ended at 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, for a total procession time of 30 hours, 50 minutes, and 1 second, Quiapo Church said.

Over seven million devotees participated in the Feast of Jesus Nazareno as of Saturday morning, the Manila City government reported.

In a Facebook post by its public information office, Manila City said this year's religious festivity has drawn 7,337,700 participants as of 7 a.m. Saturday.

It said the figure was a crowd estimate of the "accumulated grand total" using drone technology of the Innovation Integrated GIS and Data Hub of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO). —VBL/KG, GMA Integrated News