A DIRE warning of a potential terror attack from no less than President Benigno Aquino himself failed to dampen the fervor of devotees of the Black Nazarene at yesterday’s procession highlighting the annual feast of the revered icon.

Barefoot men and women wearing maroon shirts waved white towels and handkerchiefs as the Black Nazarene, a life-size icon of Jesus Christ carrying a cross, was paraded on the capital's streets.

National television aired live footage of a huge crowd at Manila's Rizal Park at the start of a procession that is expected to last until early evening.

The Black Nazarene march is one of the most spectacular of many religious festivals that feature throughout the year, and police estimated between two and three million people turned up yesterday to be part of the crowd.

Many Filipinos attribute miraculous powers to the icon, which a Spanish priest brought to the Philippines in 1607.

The huge turnout came amid a warning by President Aquino on the eve of the festival that authorities had uncovered a plot to attack the event, potentially with a bomb triggered by a mobile phone.

"The sad reality of the world today is that terrorists want to disrupt the ability of the people to live their lives in the way they want to, including the freedom to worship and engage in community activities," Aquino said.

Manhunt

Security forces yesterday stepped-up their hunt for six to nine suspected terrorists  plotting  to bomb the Black Nazarene religious procession in Quiapo, Manila.

Intelligence sources identified the leaders of the group as Jamil/Jamid Sali and a certain Sheik Omar Samunsang. The suspects who are believed to be members of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group and rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels were said to have traveled from Mindanao to Metro Manila where they were monitored to have stayed in different Muslim communities while plotting their attempt to bomb the Black Nazarene procession.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said soldiers and policemen raided three suspected terrorist hideouts in Rizal and two in Metro Manila, one of which was located in the Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila but failed to make any arrest.

“There was no trace of the suspects but we’re still continuing the operation,” Gazmin said.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome said police troops augmented by soldiers from the Army, Air Force and Navy and the Coast Guard were involved in the massive security operation. K-9 units from the three law enforcement agencies were also dispatched to help sniff out bombs.

The PNP chief said more than 5,000 policemen were sent to secure the procession routes a day after President Aquino warned of a possible attempt by terrorists to attack and even bomb the Feast of the Black Nazarene. National Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Alan LM Purisima also placed the 17,000-strong Metro Manila police force on full alert for the Quiapo event.

Bartolome said they bolstered security in the area to ensure that the procession will be as peaceful as possible. “The President’s concern is the safety of everyone, he’s very particular about the safety of the general public. And we are responding appropriately on this,” he said.

The PNP chief confirmed that the suspected terrorists who came from Mindanao were sighted in Manila triggering the terror alert.

He said they had been receiving intelligence reports about the presence of the suspected terrorists in Metro Manila since last August and September. “They have been sighted here as early as in August and September last year but it was only during the early days of January that our suspicions grew strong,” he said.

He explained that the suspects’ continued stay in Metro Manila, particularly at a time when a major event like the Feast of the Black Nazarene is taking place further fueled suspicions that the group was planning an attack.

Bartolome said some of the suspects have links with other wanted terror suspects although they need to fully validate such information.

The religious event passed peacefully save for an incident at the Luneta where a Mass was celebrated before the start of the procession

At least 115 devotees were hurt when a steel railing at the Quirino Grandstand gave way under the weight of jostling people right after the Mass was said by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.

Cellphones silenced

Meanwhile, cellphone signals were turned off in a wide swathe of Manila on concerns terrorists would use mobile phones to trigger a bomb.

Malacañang confirmed it asked the telecommunication companies to temporarily disconnect their services along the route of the Black Nazarene procession as part of the government's stepped-up security measures.

Cell phones have been known to be used to trigger explosives from remote locations. 

The route covers a large part of Manila, from the Luneta to Quiapo church, including several turns on narrow streets.

A telecommunications executive, who declined to be identified, confirmed that they had jammed mobile signals as instructed but added that they were surprised that the government would publicly announce such an extraordinary security measure.

In a text message to reporters, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said "this is part of the security measures agreed upon during the meeting on Sunday."

As of 11:55 a.m. Monday, though, cellphone services have resumed in the Quirino Grandstand area.   With EMontano, Itchie Cabayan and AFP