Celebration of Black Nazarene feast generally peaceful —MPD

The celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Saturday was generally peaceful, with no reported incidents of crime or commotion, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Sunday.

"Tayo ay masayang ibabalita sa ating mga mamamayan na naging matahimik, walang nangyari kahit isang insidente, walang nangyari na kahit isang krimen sa pagdiriwang ng Pista ng Nazareno," said MPD director Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

According to Francisco, more or less 500,000 individuals joined the activities related to the religious event.

A smaller number of people, however, congregated at the Sta. Cruz Church and San Sebastian Church, he added.

"Kami ay nag-expect ng napakarami dahil sa mga history, sa mga basehan natin 10 years ago, two years ago, five years ago. Nakikita natin 'yung dami ng deboto ng Nazareno. Pero umaasa kami na nakinig ang ating mga taumbayan, nakinig ang ating mga deboto na iba itong panahon na ito, iba ang panganib ng COVID," Francisco said.

"Kaya doon sa mga ganu'ng pangyayari, isinalalay namin ang aming pag-aanalisa. Kami naman ay naging handa, kaya sabi namin sa aming sarili na ito talaga ay hindi puwedeng isawalang-bahala ng mga deboto ng Nazareno na ipagpaliban ang kanilang pananampalataya," he added.

Francisco added that although a fire at the Manila City Jail caused some people to gather along control points or barricades set up by the police, it only took a little while.

MPD personnel then rearranged the line to ensure social distancing, he added.

"Natural lang na nu'ng nagkasunog ng more or less 5 a.m., lahat ay nabigla pati na rin ang pulis natin dahil hindi naman 'yun kasama sa plano namin at nagkaroon ng pagsisiksikan," Francisco said.

"Pero pagkatapos nu'n ay 'yun ay naisaayos at maghapon na ginawa ng kapulisan natin ay ipatupad ang ating IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] protocols," he added.

Minimum health protocols like wearing of face masks, face shields and social distancing were likewise observed, Francisco said, even as photos from the event posted on social media showed otherwise.

"'Yung pagsusuot ng face mask, face shield, tinitiyak ko sa inyo na 100% nasunod 'yun. Kung wala silang face mask, face shield, meron kaming binibigay sa control point. At hindi nga naubos 'yung aming dini-distribute na face mask at face shield," he said.

There were instances, however, that the police were not able to check if social distancing was being observed due to the stretch of the Traslacion route.

"Pero tinitiyak ko sa inyo na sa kagustuhan ng kapulisan na maisakatuparan ang mga ito, natitiyak ko na naipatupad namin sa abot ng aming makakaya," he said.

The MPD, along with the National Capital Region Police Office and the Philippine National Police in general are now preparing for another religious event in Manila, the Feast of Sto. Niño in Tondo happening also in January.

"Ang ating butihing mayor ay nagsabi na na bawal ang mga activities na outside the church. Parang ganu'n din sa Poong Nazareno na siguro magmi-misa at kami naman ay nandoon para magbigay ng paalala para gabayan ang mga deboto ng Sto. Niño," he said. —KG, GMA News