MANILA, Philippines — Traslacion 2020 is  the fastest procession of the image of the Black Nazarene in recent memory, as it ended 16 hours after at 8:45 p.m. on Thursday.

According to reports, the Traslacion in the past five years took at least 20 hours to finish.

In 2013, the fastest Traslacion was completed in 18 hours.

Several changes were implemented by the Manila City government and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) regarding  the route and rules of the annual procession.

Likewise, police officials recommended to impose a ban on people from climbing up the carriage during the procession.

Some devotees also complained about alleged  harsh police measures during Traslacion.

As of 11 a.m. on Thursday, the Manila Police District (MPD) estimated around 220,000 devotees participated  in Traslacion 2020.

At around noontime, the number of devotees dwindled to around 130,000.

At 4 p.m., some 27,000 people were recorded to have participated in the Pahalik or veneration of the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene.

Due to the large number of participants, some devotees fainted or experienced high blood pressure during the procession.

The Dungaw, or the meeting of the images of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Jesus during the procession, took place earlier than usual at 4:33 p.m.

Devotees earlier decried the changes made to the Traslacion this year and the alleged maltreatment by policemen.

Despite the complaints by devotees on the crowd control measures imposed, Malacañang defended the new policies implemented by the Philippine National Police.

“It may be strict, but the goal is to protect them from any harm,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

Bayan Muna condemns PNP “high-handedness”

Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, as well as Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat condemned on Friday the “heavy handedness” of the Philippine National Police(PNP)  on devotees during the Traslacion or the procession of the   image of the Black Nazarene.

“We condemn the use of excessive force by the PNP against the devotees. We have seen numerous pictures and videos pointing to the undue violence by police officers against devotees,” Zarate said in a press statement.

Zarate said he saw in some pictures several policemen were strangling a devotee and in others they manhandled a devotee and arrested him.

He said that a police general even took and confiscated the phone of GMA7 reporter Jun Veneracion, who was then recording the incident.

“Worse, the footage was even deleted in an apparent attempt to hide their brutality. Fortunately, the deleted footage was recovered and even exposed how a ranking PNP official can peddle lies to cover-up their misdeeds,” he said.

300 tons of garbage

In relation to the 2020 observance of the Traslacion, the Manila city government reported more than 300 tons of garbage was collected by dozens  of trucks utilized to clean up the mess that was left behind by more than  two  million  Black Nazarene devotees.

The Manila City Government reported that  330 tons of garbage equivalent to 68 truckloads were collected by the Manila Department of Public Services during the religious event that was held on Thursday.

This figure, however, was relatively lower than that of the previous year.

Around 387.4 tons of garbage equivalent to 99 truckloads were collected during Traslacion 2019, according to  the data of  the Manila Public Information Office.

Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition had earlier lamented the irresponsible waste disposal at Rizal Park and other streets in Manila during this year’s Traslacion.

Sleeping materials, food leftovers, urine-filled plastic bottles, dirty diapers, and single-use plastics were among the discards left behind by the devotees. (Stacy Ang/JGo/CurrentPH.com)