MANILA -- To ensure peace and order, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday advised the public for cooperation and avoid the procession route during the annual feast of the Black Nazarene on Wednesday, January 9.
PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said the mission is to assist devotees in ushering the Holy image of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand back to the Minor Basilica in Quiapo.
“The ultimate goal is to prevent if not minimize deaths or injuries that have been perennially associated with this annual event. To achieve this goal of 'zero casualty', we need the utmost cooperation of everyone particularly the devotees who will participate in the activities. We enjoin all devotees joining the Traslacion to observe proper decorum and behavior befitting the sanctity of this religious rite,” Albayalde told reporters during a press briefing.
He said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will implement the operational framework of major events security to ensure order, safety and security for the expected 21 million devotees as estimated by officials of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.
“We are now fine-tuning all preparations and final coordination with various government agencies and concerned organizations," Albayalde said.
As expected, the PNP chief said the movement of a massive crowd will render all roads and peripheries along the 6.1-kilometer procession route around the Luneta and Quiapo areas virtually inaccessible.
“Therefore, we strongly advise those with no urgent business in these areas to postpone their trips for another day for their own convenience,” he noted.
He added that the 27,000-strong NCRPO is on full alert and will be fielding 7,200 personnel for public safety and law enforcement duties in the Traslacion activities and this will be augmented by troops from the Joint Task Force NCR of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He said PNP National Support Units will provide operational support through the deployment of emergency medical teams, mobile patrol, bay and river patrol and intelligence monitoring.
The PNP chief ordered the suspension of Permits to Carry Firearms outside of Residence (PTCFOR) in the City of Manila from 8 a.m. on Tuesday (January 8) to 8 p.m. on Thursday (January 10).
Only members of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agencies, who are performing official duties and wearing agency-related uniforms, will be allowed to carry firearms.
Albayalde also said the NCRPO will implement its operational plan effective 8 p.m. Tuesday, when a city-wide liquor ban shall be strictly enforced until after the culmination of Traslacion activities.
“Unruly persons and those under the influence of drugs and alcohol will be immediately evicted from the activity,” he said.
Albayalde said elsewhere across the country, where similar Feast of the Black Nazarene activities will be celebrated, Police Regional and Provincial Offices will implement their respective security and public safety plans.
He also said no terror threat has been monitored in time for the annual feast and other festivities for the month of January.
“We have not monitored any significant security issue that may possibly affect the otherwise peaceful and orderly celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila this year, including other major annual religious festivities celebrated in January such as the Feast of the Sto. Niño, the patron saint of the Philippines; and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan, Sinulog in Cebu and Dinagyang in Iloilo,” he said.
Devotees and spectators are also discouraged from bringing backpacks and valuables, wearing caps, bringing colored beverages or drinks in non-transparent containers, explosives or firecrackers, liquor, illegal drugs, and deadly weapons. (PNA)
