Terror plot marks 2012 rites

MANILA, Philippines - What made last year’s Feast of the Black Nazarene different was that for the first time, the government jammed cell phone signals in the areas around the procession route in response to a possible terror attack.

Authorities also said the 2012 procession, which lasted 22 hours, is the longest Nazarene procession on record.

The Philippine Red Cross also reported that 560 devotees suffered injuries while 419 were treated for high blood pressure during the 2012 procession. Of the 979 devotees treated, 22 of them were taken to the nearest medical facility, the PRC said.

No deaths were recorded last year, compared to two each in 2006, 2008 and 2010 and one in 2004.

While there were no reported deaths in 2005, the Fire Emergency and Paramedic Assistance group and an operations officer in Quiapo church said a total of 63 persons were hurt.

In 2006, the Manila Police District recorded 1,000 persons wounded during the procession. The Philippine General Hospital treated 11 injured devotees and four who suffered from high blood pressure.

The number of injured persons dropped to 284 in 2007 and 50 in 2008.

In 2009, the PRC recorded at least 227 injured devotees and 450 in 2010.

The figure rose again in 2011 with 560 devotees treated for lacerations, abdominal pain, sprain, headache, dizziness, difficulty in breathing, hypertension and back pain.