SOME 80,000 devotees joined the procession of the replicas of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila on Sunday, police said.
Manila Police District (MPD) spokesman Supt. Erwin Margarejo said 500 policemen were deployed in the area to ensure peace and order.
Local authorities said they are expecting at least 18.9 million people to join the 10 days of activities for the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila.
The expected crowd at the actual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene from Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo is between 2 million and 3 million, police said.
The MPD on Sunday urged devotees not to bring expensive personal belongings, such as jewelry and cell phones, if they plan to joining the Traslacion on Jan. 9 to avoid being victimized by robbers.
“We urge the public who will attend not to wear jewelry. Likewise, don’t bring your cell phones if it’s possible,’’ MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said in Pilipino, during an interview over the radio.
Devotees should also avoid bringing small children and their babies, Coronel advised.
If they must bring bags, devotees are urged to use transparent ones so that they can get through security inspections faster.
As of Friday, a total of 165,000 people have arrived at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park for the Pahalik, he said.
Authorities are expecting a total of 18.9 million devotees to join the week-long Feast of the Black Nazarene and two million people to join the Traslacion.
Aside from the official Traslacion route, which stretches to at least six kilometers, authorities have identified 12 prayer stations.
The prayer stations are located at: Manila Hotel; National Museum; Victoria corner Burgos streets; Liwasang Bonifacio; Escolta arch; Sta. cruz Church; Arlegui Street corner Quezon Boulevard; Arlegui corner Casal streets; Manuel L. Quezon University; San Sebastian Church; De Guzman Street; and Globo de Oro Street.
A 36-hour liquor ban will be enforced starting Monday afternoon and ending early Wednesday morning as part of security measures for a peaceful and orderly observance of the feast of the Black Nazarene of Manila’s Quiapo Church.
The MPD said the liquor ban will start as 6 p.m. on Jan. 8 (Monday) and will end at 5 a.m. on Jan. 10 (Wednesday).
The ban covers a 200-meter radius from all points of the Black Nazarene procession route.
Intermittent cellular signal interruption will be imposed within a one-kilometer radius from the Black Nazarene and along the procession route.
Earlier, the National Capital Region Police Office announced a 48-hour gun ban in some areas in Manila where events of for the feast of the Black Nazarene were to take place.
The gun ban will begin at midnight on Jan. 8 and will end at midnight on Jan. 10.