MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be deploying 7,200 police officers to secure key areas in Manila during the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene on January 9, NCRPO head Director Guillermo Eleazar said on Friday.
According to Eleazar, the 2,200 cops from the Manila Police District (MPD) will be augmented by 5,000 officers from the four other NCRPO districts and the NCRPO’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion.
“As per the request of the (Manila) District Director, we would be augmenting around 7,200 police personnel. (Of this number) 2,200 would be coming from the Manila Police District (MPD), ito ‘yong magbabantay sa areas ng Traslacion,” he said.
“The 7,200 personnel will be deployed during sa mismong Traslacion natin, dito sa Quirino (Grandstand) area, and then sa Quiapo area, and the 6.1 kilometer route ng ating procession,” he added.
Eleazar also said that the route of the Traslacion would be divided into 10 segments, with each segment having a police command post for police.
“The route will be divided into 10 segments, each segment may kumpletong organizational structure, manned by segment commander with all the components, assistants coming from the other agencies ng local government unit as well as national government,” he noted.
“So sisiguraduhin po natin na pagkatapos, from the movement the procession from the Quirino Grandstand going to the Church, ‘yong 10 segments na ito ay tutukuan ng ating kapulisan with the other support elements,” he added.
Government agencies along with the Catholic Church are preparing for the influx of people joining the procession, which is expected to draw around two to four million devotees.
As large events attract untoward incidents, authorities have ordered parts of Manila especially the route of the Traslacion to be a no-signal, no-fly, and no-sail zone. Aside from these, the local government of Manila has also suspended classes in all levels, both public and private schools on January 9.
MPD District Director Sr. Supt. Vicente Danao Jr. meanwhile said they are doing everything to prepare for the event.
“On behalf of the Manila Police District […] we would like to assure the devotees and the spectators on this occasion that the MPD would be giving its best to secure, especially po the safety ng lahat ng attendees,” Danao said.
Eleazar said no security threats for the Traslacion have been monitored. /muf