Black Nazarene motorcade cancelled due to large crowds outside church

The early morning motorcade that was to bring the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene around the vicinity of Quiapo church was cancelled, GMA News' Darlene Cay reported.

The traditional Good Friday procession has been cancelled for two consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, Quiapo church officials had modified the traditional foot procession and scheduled a motorcade that would follow a four-kilometer route in Manila.

However, the activity was cancelled after 50,000 devotees gathered along the streets near the church.

Police Lt. Col. John Guiagui, Sta. Cruz Police Station chief, said the Manila Police District and church officials decided to stop the motorcade because the crowd could not be controlled.

The motorcade began at midnight but the group only made it from Plaza Miranda to Villalobos Street before eventually cancelling the event.

Cay reported that church officials said the devotees may have been excited about the event while some may not be ready to follow health protocols.

The devotees will be allowed to enter the church after the excitement has died down.

Plaza Miranda was cleared of the people except for police personnel, media practitioners, church volunteers and employees.

Cay also reported that some devotees were not wearing face masks, some wore their mask improperly, while some were not practicing social distancing. -- BAP, GMA News