The one million Filipino devotees who flocked the Traslacion 2024 were similar to the pre-pandemic levels, according to the Manila Police District (MPD).
“Ganito ang mga numero noong pre-pandemic. Ganito ang kapal ng tao na nakikita. Hindi pa tayo umaabot [sa 2 million] kasi may mga natitira pang dadaanan ang karosa. I think it’s more than 1 million already. Higit isang milyon na rin sa lahat ng festivities natin,” MPD Director Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay told DZRH in an interview.
Ibay added that this year’s procession was faster compared to the previous years’ Traslacion.
“Yung napagplanuhang deployment, nasunod naman. Medyo mabilis ang galaw ng andas natin. Noong mga nakaraang taon, around 2016 o 2017, kapag mga ganitong oras, paparating pa lang [ang andas] sa Palanca, Quezon Blvd. Pero nakita naman natin, ang bilis. Papunta na sa San Sebastian Church sa dungaw,” he said.
Ibay shared that they reported around 48 individuals injured since the procession began, with cases of light injuries and dizziness. However, he claimed that the data may be higher considering that the medical stations were inaccessible amid the huge number of people.
“Ang reported sa amin ngayon [ay] around 48 na. These are light injuries, dizziness. Nakikita rin namin na may nagpapa-check ng presyon. Hindi pa kami makakuha ng exact data. Merong kaunting recorded na medical incidents. Yung report namin [ay] 48 but this can be higher, double or triple. Hindi namin mapuntahan ang medical stations,” he said.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) logged 274 patients who suffered from major and minor injuries during the Black Nazarene procession.
The MPD director also shared that its agency has deployed over 3,000 personnel along checkpoints and road closures.
“In today’s Traslacion, meron kaming na-deploy na more than 2,000 or 3,000 na personnel. Hindi lang sa ruta ng Traslacion kasi meron ding checkpoints, road closure,” he said.
Despite this, Ibay said they were yet to record individuals who lost their money and belongings from theft.
“Sa ngayon, wala pang pumupunta rito para magreport ng nawawalan ng pera. Wala pang recorded incidents,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a report by RH Boy Gonzales, the official photographer from the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) and a cameraman from a TV network got pickpocketed during the procession.
