Communication signals were temporarily shut down along the route of the Black Nazarene procession or Traslacion in Manila on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
The signals were jammed at around 4:40 a.m.
The Manila Police District (MPD) initially announced the possibility of jamming the signals during the procession.
It said the decision to shut down the signals would be based on the threat assessment by the authorities.
It did not disclose the exact time of the start and end of the signal jamming for security purposes.
Many devotees were having problems in contacting their family members who came to Manila for the procession.
Some of them were separated from their groups when the procession started.
"Nawala na lang sila sa likod ko. Imposible na magkita-kita pa kami sa dami ng tao, baka sa Quiapo na lang kami magtagpo (They just disappeared from behind me. It's impossible for us to see each other in this crowd. Maybe we'll just meet in Quiapo)," Rick, 37, said.
Rick has been a devotee of the Black Nazarene since 2009. He said he did not expect that many people will attend the procession especially since Traslacion has just returned this year.
Related stories:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/9/1-3-m-devotees-gather-for-black-nazarene-procession
https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/9/175-000-devotees-join-misa-mayor-at-quirino-grandstand