Black Nazarene to get police escort

At least 110 police officers and 100 civilian volunteers and church workers will surround the carriage and line the aisle of the Quiapo church as the image is brought out for the traditional procession around the streets of Quiapo on Wednesday, the first time that this will happen in the history of the image.

The measure was requested by Quiapo parish priest Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to prevent a repeat of the New Year’s Day procession of the Black Nazarene wherein six male devotees were hurt in a mad scramble to touch the carriage bearing the image.

Lim ordered Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula to find ways and means to secure the safety of devotees.     “The buffer of policemen and volunteers will prevent devotees from ganging up on the carriage even before it leaves the church. Traditionally, it took half an hour before the carriage finds its way outside the church as devotees insisted on climbing up on the carriage,” Sapitula said.

However, when the carriage is already outside, police and volunteers will disperse and give way to the ropes that are being pulled by devotees. The police and volunteers will again surround the carriage on its entry back to the church, Sapitula added.

The policemen escorting the image will be unarmed and will be wearing only rubber shoes and blue police t-shirts.     – Nestor Etolle