Crowds troop to Quiapo for First Friday mass

Manila police got a preview of the security "nightmare" they will face during the upcoming feast of the Black Nazarene as devotees started trooping to Quiapo in Manila Friday. Radio dzBB reported that crowd was heavy as Nazarene devotees went to Quiapo, where they mingled with the already big number of faithful who regularly attend the First Friday mass there - filling both the church area and the nearby Plaza Miranda. The report said the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 3 recorded no untoward incident during Friday morning's mass. MPD said they will use their observations in Friday's mass as additional pointers in security preparations for January 9, the report said. Already, police had heightened visibility and patrol operations to deter criminals from exploiting the situation and preying on devotees and bystanders. Up to three million Nazarene devotees are expected to troop to Quiapo on Wednesday next week to mark the Feast of the Black Nazarene, whose image is believed to have miraculous powers. Among the high-profile devotees expected to join the yearly procession there is Vice President Noli de Castro. City government and private organizers of the January 9 feast earlier said they are focusing on the safety of devotees and pedestrians along the route of the procession, after six devotees to the Nazarene were injured in a mishap involving the carriage bearing the image of the Nazarene last Tuesday. - GMANews.TV