INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS/JEROME CRISTOBAL
Updated @ 10:25 p.m., Jan. 2, 2025
MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has deployed 14,474 personnel for security ahead of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
The Metro Manila police force on Thursday said it tapped 12,168 cops and 2,306 personnel from partner agencies for additional support to secure the areas and route of the Traslacion, or the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene.
READ: Quiapo Church releases schedule for Nazareno 2025 activities
Last year, 6,532,501 devotees joined the Nazareno procession, triple the number of participants anticipated by the Manila City government, according to the Quiapo Church Command Post.
READ: Triple the expected number: Over 6.5-M devotees join Nazareno procession
Fresh off the holidays
The NCRPO’s preparations for the Feast of the Black Nazarene came right after the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Ligtas Paskuhan (Safe Christmas) initiative.
According to the NCRPO, it deployed 10,984 officers to maintain peace and order over the holidays from Dec. 16, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025.
It confiscated firecrackers worth P790,455 and apprehended nine individuals for illegal possession, use, and sale of the devices as of 6 a.m. on Jan. 1.
In another statement Thursday, NCRPO added that the amount of illegal firecrackers confiscated by police increased by 1,386 percent from last year due to “intensified” interventions against the unregulated possession, use and sale of the devices.
READ: Value of seized firecrackers rises to P9.3M on New Years Day
It also logged 28 percent fewer firecracker-related injuries and 50 percent fewer stray bullet cases in the region.
Further, the NCRPO arrested three individuals for illegal discharge of firearms.
READ: More illegal gun firing cases in New Year 2025; Total now at 27
Metro Manila police reported no major incidents during New Year festivities.
“Our intensified police visibility in key areas, the conduct of aggressive and relentless anti-crime operations, and the active participation of community members in the security coverage significantly removed the opportunity of lawless elements to commit their criminal acts,” NCRPO Director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin said in the statement.
“This strategy with minor modifications will be adopted as NCRPO will secure the Kapistahan ng Nazareno (Feast of the Black Nazarene) in a few days’ time,” he added.