This year’s Traslacion may take more than 17 hours, the Manila Police District (MPD) estimates.
According to MPD Director PBGen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, saw a significantly slower movement of the andas this year, compared to 2024. Its delay is caused by devotees who keep attempting to climb up the carriage and touch the sacred image. One of the ropes pulling the carriage during the procession also snapped.
Ibay recalled that back in 2024, the Traslacion only took 15 hours. The andas arrived two hours earlier at Quezon Boulevard, compared to this year.
“Kumpara last year, mas mabagal yung usad ng ating andas. Kasi pagka ganitong panahon noon, halos naandyan na sa may Z.P. De Guzman yung andas. Pero ngayon, naandon pa lang sa may bandang San Sebastian dyan sa may Plaza Del Carmen. ‘Yun ang naobserbahan namin ngayon,” the MPD Director said.
However, Ibay assured that the MPD’s main concern is the public’s safety.
“Mahigit dalawang oras pa ang tatakbuhin niyan bago makapasok dito. Sana, ninanais natin na lalong mapabilis ito. Ngunit, kung hindi naman ay importante [na] maging ligtas ang lahat at matapos itong ating traslacion,” he said.
WATCH: Ayon kay Manila Police District Director PBGen. Arnold Thomas Ibay na mas mabagal ang usad ng #Traslacion2025 kumpara noong nakaraang taon | RH 29 @boy_gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/PM8wwPmMyf
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 9, 2025
Meanwhile, the crowd entering Quiapo Church on Villalobos Street is continually being controlled by police, to prevent crowding.
Around 2:00 PM today, the Nazareno Operation Center said that the crowd estimate reached 630,000. There is a possibility that the number will increase, as more devotees arrive to attend the mass and await the arrival of Jesus Nazarene at the Minor Basilica.
In an update, the Multi-Agency Coordination Center said that the crowd estimate in Quiapo Church reached 713,600 at around 5:00 PM.
