Thousands of police officers and soldiers were on heightened alert in the Philippine capital yesterday ahead of one of the most celebrated religious events in the predominantly Catholic country.
Authorities also imposed bans on liquor sales and carrying of firearms among civilians in Manila City, where millions were expected to attend a procession to honour the centuries-old Black Nazarene statue today.
More than 5,600 police officers and over 1,000 soldiers were being deployed to secure the feast of the Black Nazarene.
“So far we have not received any information of a specific threat against the feast, but we cannot relax,” said Director Oscar Albayalde, chief of the capital police force.
“Our intelligence operatives are monitoring threat groups that could operate during the procession,” he added.
Yesterday, tens of thousands of devotees lined up to kiss or wipe their handkerchiefs or towels on the Black Nazarene statue at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park in Manila City.
Millions were expected to attend the day-long procession today, which will traverse nearly six kilometres from Luneta Park to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in the district of Quiapo.
The Black Nazarene is believed to have been brought from Mexico to Manila in 1606 by Spanish missionaries.
The ship that carried it caught fire, but the charred statue survived and was named the Black Nazarene.
More than 80% of the Philippines’ estimated 100mn population are Roman Catholic.