OVER 14,000 COPS TO SECURE FEAST OF BLACK NAZARENE

MORE than 14,000 policemen will be deployed to  secure the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila on January 9, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Thursday said.

NCRPO acting director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin, in a statement, said 12,168 officers will be assigned for area and route security while 2,306 personnel  would serve as augmentation force.

Aberin said the preparations for the annual religious activity came right after the Philippine National Police’s (PNP)  implementation of the “Ligtas Paskuhan”  drive.

During the Safe Christmas initiative, the NCRPO  deployed 10,984 cops to maintain peace and order in the region from Dec. 16, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025.

The official said no major incidents, except for some firecracker-related injuries, were recorded during the New Year festivities.

He said the strategy, with minor modifications, will be adopted as NCRPO will secure the Feast of the Black Nazarene or the Traslacion.

The route of the annual Black Nazarene procession on January 9 will remain the same.

Church officials said the procession will begin at the Quirino Grandstand, turn right to Katigbak Drive (left side), right to Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road, go straight to Ayala Bridge, left to Palanca Street, right to Quezon Boulevard, right to Arlegui Street, right to Fraternal Street, right to Vergara Street, left to Duque de Alba Street, left to Castillejos Street, left to Farnecio Street, right to Arlegui Street, left to Nepomuceno Street, left to Concepcion Aguila Street, right to Carcer Street, right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gonzalo Puyat, left to JP De Guzman Street, right to Hidalgo Street, left to Quezon Boulevard, right to Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge, right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda, and finally to Quiapo Church.

The procession of the image from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to Quiapo Church is the highlight of the annual religious event.