Families of Traslacion 2026 victims see no need to sue Quiapo Church

By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News

Published January 12, 2026 2:38pm

Filipino Catholic devotees surround the carriage carrying the image of the Jesus Nazareno as it is returned to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno or Quiapo Church in Manila during the annual Traslacion procession which lasted nearly 31 hours, the longest in history, on January 10, 2026. REUTERS/Noel Celis

The families of those who died during the Traslacion have no plans to file a complaint against the Quiapo Church, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Monday.

At a press conference, NCRPO spokesperson Police Major Hazel Asilo, no one from the families of the deceased have expressed intent of holding the Minor Basilica of the Nazarene, the organizer of the annual event, accountable for the deaths of devotees during the long procession.

“Based doon sa pag-imbestiga ng ating mga tauhan mula sa homicide, walang plano or wala silang naiisip na reason para kasuhan yung simbahan regarding sa nangyayari sa kanilang pamilya,” Asilo said.

(Based on the investigation by our homicide personnel, there is no plan or any reason to sue the church regarding what happened to their family members.)

“Kasi alam naman nila ‘yung consequence nung pagpunta nila dun, aware sila dun sa mga posibleng mangyayari,” she added.

(Because they knew the possible consequences when they went there, they were aware of what could happen.)

Four people were reported dead during the Traslacion, which started on Friday and ended on Saturday.

This year’s Traslacion lasted 30 hours, 50 minutes, and 1 second—the longest in its history. A total of 9,640,290 people participated in the procession, according to the church.

Based on figures from the Quiapo Church, a total of 1,057 medical cases were recorded during the religious festivity.—MCG, GMA Integrated News

SOURCE: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/972524/families-of-traslacion-2026-victims-see-no-need-to-sue-quiapo-church/story/