‘No security threats yet regarding Black Nazarene Feast day’—PNP

Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A day before the Feast of the Black Nazarene, police said they have not monitored any security threats but maintained that they will not hesitate to jam cell-phone signals should there be a need.

“We have not monitored any specific threats so there is no need to jam signals,” Police Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman told reporters Tuesday.

“[But] our security contingent will make the appropriate adjustment, if they monitor any [threat]. [They] will jam signals if needed,” he said.

More than 3,000 police officers coming from the National Capitol Region Police Office (NCRPO) will provide security to the expected 11 million devotees of the Black Nazarene, Cerbo said.

Local Government Units (LGUs) have committed the same amount of security personnel for the annual feast and procession, he added.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is also expected to field around 1,000 personnel to assist in keeping order on the roads as the procession makes its way from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church, Cerbo said.

“Our intelligence services are continuously monitoring threat groups … looking at all possible angles,” he said.

When asked if the NCRPO has raised its alert level for the feast on Wednesday, Cerbo said that he has not heard of any change in their alert level but gave his assurance that the appropriate number of personnel will be assigned to provide security.