Palace asks cell phone companies to temporarily block service in area of Nazarene procession

MANILA, Philippines – Even if devotees carried with them their cell phones during Monday’s procession of the Black Nazarene in Manila, they will not be able to make or receive calls.

Malacañang said it has asked telecommunications companies “to temporarily disconnect their services in the route of the procession in the route of the Black Nazarene.”

The move was part of the security measures agreed upon during the meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and his security officials last Sunday, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

Aquino has asked devotees not to bring their cell phones during the procession as he warned terrorists could attempt to launch terrorist attacks such as bombings during the celebration attended by millions of devotees.

Cell phones could be used to detonate bombs, according to Palace officials.

In a separate advisory on its Facebook account, https://www.facebook.com/globeph/posts/10150484556589748,  Globe Telecommunications Inc., said its users may experience “a temporary loss of signal as the government has put up security measures for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.”

INQUIRER.net reporters on the scene said Monday that there was a disruption in the signals on their cell phones although officials, when questioned, denied that these were being jammed.