The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported four fatalities during the 2026 Feast of the Black Nazarene, which concluded Saturday morning after a record-setting 30-hour procession.
NCRPO Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin confirmed the initial death toll to reporters at Quiapo Church shortly after the “Traslacion” ended at 10:50 a.m. on January 10.
Among the casualties was photojournalist Itoh Son, who collapsed at the Manila Police District (MPD) Ermita Station near the Quirino Grandstand hours before the procession began on Friday.
While police previously confirmed two other deaths during the movement of the andas (carriage), officials from the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) reported receiving three patients who died during the event.
Authorities are still verifying whether the casualties reported by the JRRMMC overlap with the NCRPO’s official tally.
The 2026 Traslacion became the longest in the event’s history, lasting 30 hours and 50 minutes.
The procession saw a massive turnout of approximately 9.64 million devotees, according to Quiapo Church officials—a significant increase from the 8.12 million participants recorded in 2025.
Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. expressed sadness over the loss of life, describing the fatalities as a “solemn reminder of the physical risks in mass gatherings.”
Despite the casualties and nearly 1,700 medical incidents logged by command posts, the Philippine National Police maintained that the event was “generally peaceful.”
The marathon procession faced several delays, including a snapped rope at Quezon Boulevard and instances where devotees resisted church orders to temporarily house the image at San Sebastian Church to allow for rest.
In response to the record-breaking duration, Maj. Gen. Aberin stated that the NCRPO plans to deploy more tactical units and volunteers in future years to better facilitate the crowd and speed up the movement of the religious icon.