MANILA, Philippines – The police and military are preparing for the worst at the Jones Bridge in Manila, one of the critical points along the route of the Black Nazarene procession on Friday, January 9. 

Both police and military team leaders – Police Inspector Henry Bañez and Captain Nani Blanco – are involved in the Nazarene operations for the first time.

Bañez told Rappler that the Manila Police District Station 7 has augmented two teams of 15 policemen stationed at both ends of the bridge.

“[‘Yung] crowd na magulo, maninira ng gamit sa tabi, mananamantala, yun babantayan namin kasi pag ganitong sitwasyon di maiwasan i-take advantage nila yung pagiging busy ng tao sa procession,” he said.

(We are closely monitoring rowdy crowds that destroy property along the way, and take advantage of the situation, especially when people are busy in the procession.)

A bottleneck is expected once it reaches the vicinity of Jones Bridge. Bañez said they are monitoring whether there will be change in the expected number of devotees due to the rainy weather.

He said that the numbers usually dwindle when there is a downpour, but light rains are not enough to deter devotees from joining the procession. 

Around 300 Armed Forces personnel are deployed from Liwasang Bonifacio to Jones Bridge to support the police, according to Blanco.

 “[We will] facilitate para maayos ang daloy (to ensure smooth flow),” Blanco said. 

The Philippine Coast Guard is also on standby for any mishaps during the festivities that may require their help, such as devotees falling into the Pasig River.

 All 4 lanes of the bridge were closed to large vehicles past 10 am but small vehicles like motorcycles and pedicabs were still allowed entry.

Last year, devotees pushed two container vans blocking Magallanes Street in an attempt to change the route of the procession – they wanted to cross MacArthur bridge instead of Jones bridge.

MacArthur bridge, also known as Sta Cruz bridge, was part of the old route and is closer to Quiapo Church, but was last retrofitted in 1991 and feared unsafe to bear the volume of devotees.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene is one of the country’s biggest religious gatherings, attracting millions of devotees who join the hours-long procession from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.

Devotees believe the centuries-old image of Jesus Christ is miraculous. – Rappler.com