Asia-Pacific News
15,000 join Philippine religious event despite terrorist threat
Jan 9, 2012, 0:25 GMT
Manila - Thousands of devotees on Monday joined an annual religious procession in the Philippines despite warnings of a terrorist threat to disrupt the event.
More than 15,000 people gathered at a seaside grandstand in central Manila, the start of the procession of the Black Nazarene, a centuries-old, life-size wooden statue of a suffering, dark-skinned Jesus Christ.
The statue, carried on a carriage, was to be brought around a 6-kilometre route on its way to its home in Quiapo Church from the grandstand.
President Benigno Aquino on Sunday warned of a possible terrorist attack, including bombings, during the procession and urged devotees to be on high alert.
'The sad reality of the world today is that terrorists want to disrupt the ability of people to live their lives in the ways they want to: including the freedom to worship and engage in community activities,' he said.
Thousands of police officers and hundreds of soldiers have been dispatched to guard the Feast of the Black Nazarene, one of the most-celebrated religious events in the predominantly Catholic country.
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