Cops draw lesson from Traslacion deaths, injuries
Published Jan 10, 2026 06:43 pm
The image of Jesus Nazareno is surrounded by a sea of Catholic devotees as they take part in the traditional Traslacion along Carlos Palanca Street in Manila on Friday, January 9, 2026, as thousands of faithful joined the annual procession in celebration of the Feast of Jesus Nazareno, one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.(John Louie Abrina)
The death of four people and hundreds of injuries during the Black Nazarene procession should be taken into consideration in future planning for Traslacion, an top official of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said.
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin said there were four reported deaths during the Traslacion and all of them are under investigation.
He said there are some factors that contributed not only to the reported deaths but also to the injuries suffered by the devotees, including the overwhelming number of devotees which was estimated to be at more than 9.3 million, as well as the aggressive behavior of some devotees to get near the carriage.
“The hundreds of injuries recorded and the three reported deaths which are now under investigation, are also seen as the result of these factors. These matters must be seriously taken into account in future similar celebrations,” said Aberin.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) also extended condolences to the family of a photojournalist and three devotees who died during the procession of the Black Nazarene in Manila.
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said they were saddened by the confirmation of the reports that four people died during the religious event, one of them was a photojournalist who collapsed while covering the Traslacion.
“We are deeply saddened by these reports. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased. While the Traslacion was generally orderly, even a single loss of life is a serious matter for us,” said Nartatez.
“This serves as a solemn reminder of the physical risks involved in massive gatherings, and we will further strengthen our crowd management, medical coordination, and safety measures in future events,” he added.
Aside from the photojournalist, Aberin said the fatalities were a 30-year old resident of Binondo, a 41-year old resident of Sampaloc, Manila; and an unidentified male person.
Despite the fatalities and cases of injuries, Aberin said the Traslacion 2026 can be considered generally peaceful, safe and secure with no major crime recorded.
“Our security preparations aptly addressed anticipated and prevailing security issues following the deployment of more than 18,000 policemen in all areas of engagement,” said Aberin.
“Overall, the comprehensive yet flexible security coverage introduced by NCRPO, partner agencies and the Traslacion 2026’ organizers delivered positive and outstanding results considering the presence of significant challenges during the religious event,” he added.