By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday has shifted its full security focus to the upcoming Feast of the Jesus Nazareno on Jan. 9, following the conclusion of Christmas and New Year’s Day deployments.
Visibility and intelligence monitoring have been intensified ahead of the annual religious event, which is expected to draw millions of devotees to Quiapo, Manila, Acting PNP Chief PLt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a news release Sunday.
Nartatez said police officers were deployed starting Jan. 2 for Masses, community visits in Quiapo and blessing of Nazareno replicas.
An estimated 15,000 to 18,000 officers will be deployed across Manila and nearby areas, with reinforcements coming from Police Regional Offices in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
Coordination with the Manila city government, Quiapo Church, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and other agencies has been ongoing for the past two months, Nartatez said.
Medical teams and specialized police units will also be on standby even as the PNP urged the public to cooperate with authorities and observe safety guidelines, especially during the Traslacion procession.
The PNP has not monitored threats linked to the celebration.
“Every year has a different security challenge but the objective remains the same: To ensure the safety of the millions of devotees and to maintain peace and order at the span of the annual religious activity. Your PNP is ready but we still ask for vigilance and cooperation from the public to achieve our goal,” Nartatez said. (PNA)
