‘Traslacion’ participant dies of heart attack

BLACK NAZARENE DEVOTEES. Devotees inch their way to touch and kiss the Black Nazarene during the “Traslacion 2018” procession at the Quirino Grandstand dawn Tuesday (Jan. 9, 2018). (FILE PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday said a former member of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was so far the sole fatality of this year’s “Traslacion” or procession of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.

NCRPO head Director Oscar Albayalde identified the fatality as former SJO4 Ramil Dela Cruz who died while undergoing treatment at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

“Inatake s’ya. (He had a heart attack.) He is a devotee. He is a (former) member of the BJMP. Dinala sa ospital at doon namatay,” Albayalde said

A statement from the BJMP indicated that Dela Cruz was dropped from the rolls last August 31 due to absences without leave and that the former’s last posting was at the Metro Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Also, the NCRPO chief said estimated participants in the procession peaked at 3.5 million while those who attended the ‘Pahalik’ at the Quirino Grandstand totaled 150,000 while those who went to hear the evening mass reached 600,000.

While those present in the Quiapo area for the religious event totaled 7.6 million.

“There is still a lot to improve talaga with regards to security. Una, probably ‘yung communication dahil alam natin nagiging template na ito yung pagpatay ng communication signal. Probably, we can improve our communication lalo na sa radio kasi kailangan natin ‘yan, yung coordination between segment leaders natin at of course kailangan pa rin (ng) close coordination with the executive committee ng ating mga mamamasan, (ang) ating (Hijos) para lalong mapabilis yung prusisyon,” Albayalde added. (PNA)