MANILA -- A man was beaten up by Catholic devotees after he was caught trying to steal a cellphone during the procession of the Black Nazarene along McArthur Bridge in Manila on Wednesday.

The man, who was also barefoot although not wearing a shirt with a print of the dark-skinned Christ's face, was initially believed to be a fellow devotee.

He was beaten up after the people saw him trying to steal a cellphone from the bag of one of the devotees.

The suspect was immediately brought to a police precinct.

Now on its 406th year, the procession commemorates the feast of the "traslacion" or the transfer of the sacred image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros, Manila to the Quiapo Church in 1787.

The commander of Task Force Nazareno has placed the number of devotees who joined the procession at 9 million. -- Report from Henry Atuelan, dzMM