MANILA, Philippines - Mobile communications were disrupted by authorities as part of security measures as Catholics mark an annual religious rite amid reports of a terror plot to disrupt the event.Telecom services by the country's two top mobile cellular carriers, Globe and Smart, had been disrupted for several hours while on-site communications by the police and authorities coordinating the mammoth event had been reduced to the use of two-way ultra high frequency and very high frequency hand-held radios.
Some eight million devotees have been expected to take part in the annual "Translaccion", an event where the image of the Black Nazarene is paraded through the main Manila thoroughfare from Quiapo district to the Quirino Grandstand in the capital's central Luneta Park.- President Benigno Aquino, during a press briefing on Sunday evening, said the authorities had uncovered plans
by terrorists to disrupt the event. - According to the presidential palace, the government had requested the country's telecom service providers to fully cooperate with law-enforcement agencies and take precautionary measures to enhance public safety during the observance of the feast.
- "All of them responded. The disruption in mobile services will be along the routes to be taken by the procession and it will last for the entire duration," Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
- The Translaccion commemorates the journey 400 years ago of the fire-blackened image from Acapulco, Mexico to the Philippines. During the event, a stampede left 324 devotees injured.
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