Signal jamming to be imposed on Traslacion 2024 — Abalos

Signals will be jammed in some Manila areas as part of the security measures for the conduct of the Traslacion on Tuesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Monday.

“Yes, ija-jam po tomorrow, (Yes the signal will be jammed),” Abalos said in an ambush interview during his inspection at Quiapo Church.

“So expect po, sabihan ninyo na iyong mga kamag-anak ninyo na kung hindi kayo ma-reach huwag na munang mag-panic dahil every year ginagawa po iyon,” he added.

(So expect and tell your families and relatives not to panic right away when they cannot reach you because every year it is being done.)

Abalos said he has not monitored any potential problems in connection with the Traslacion so far as all concerned government agencies are now prepared for the event.

“I don’t see any thing sa sasabihin nating problema. Ang masasabi ko 100% prepared ang kapulisan, AFP, ang Fire, ang MMDA, lalo na ang City of Manila, lahat po ng ahensya ng national government,” he said.

(I don’t see any thing that will be a problem. Our police, the AFP, the fire department, MMDA, the Manila City government, all national government agencies are 100% prepared.)

Procession

Part of the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, Traslacion is the procession of the 400-year-old black image of Jesus Christ from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.

Around 2 million people are expected to join the procession this year.

GMA News Research data showed that the last Traslacion in 2020 recorded an estimated crowd of 3.125 million devotees—2.575 million en route and 550,000 at Quiapo Church.

The duration of Traslacion started to take around 12 hours and longer in 2009, according to GMA News Research. The procession took over 22 hours in 2012, 2017, and 2018.

Also based on the data of GMA News Research from 2004 to 2020, there were 11 deaths reported during the celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said it had not monitored any threats that could disrupt the procession.

On January 5, a 42-year-old man was arrested after making a bomb joke inside Quiapo Church amid the celebration of feast of the Black Nazarene, the police said.

To secure the Feast activities, the police said some 15,000 police personnel will be deployed. During the Traslacion, over 5,600 personnel will be initially designated. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News