An estimated 200,000 Black Nazarene devotees trooped to Quiapo Church in Manila to attend the mass as of Monday afternoon, Jan 9.
The Quiapo Church Command Post said a total of 246,250 devotees have been recorded in Quiapo Church, while 122,160 were recorded at the Quirino Grandstand as of 2 p.m. Monday.
Manila Police District (MPD) Director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said no untoward incident was reported in these areas.
“Unang una, wala pa po tayong naitatalang untoward incidents sa paligid ng Quirino at Quiapo Church pati na po doon sa dinaanan ng Walk of Faith (First of all, we have not yet recorded any untoward incidents around Quirino and Quiapo Church as well as during the Walk of Faith),” Dizon said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.
“‘Yung nabalita po na may nagtangkang agawin ‘yung imahe kagabi, yun po ay after ng major mass, may mga kabataang mga sabik mahawakan. Akala nila wala nang bantay doon sa harap at gusto nilang mag shortcut doon. Hindi nila napagtagumpayan po iyon dahil nandoon ang security forces natin (It was reported that someone tried to steal the image of the Black Nazarene last night, that was after the major mass, there were young people who were eager to touch it. They thought there was no guard in front and they wanted to take a shortcut there. They didn't succeed because our security forces were there),” he assured.
Masses were being held every hour at Quiapo Church since 12 a.m. on Monday.
More than 100,000 devotees also attended the Misa Mayor which marked the start of the Feast of the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Monday midnight.
“Napakaganda po ng nangyari ngayon, masasabi po natin na peaceful, organized. Yung mga deboto at security forces ay hindi nagkaroon ng mga friction po (What happened there was very good, we can say that it was peaceful, organized. The devotees and the security forces did not have any friction),” Dizon added.
As of 12 p.m., at least 552 patients were already given medical assistance by the Philippine Red Cross.