200 cops to guard Black Nazarene feast

The Western Police District (WPD) will deploy at least 200 policemen to preserve law and order in the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, tomorrow.

Superintendent Elmer Jamias, head of the WPD Traffic Enforcement Group, said half of the 200 policemen will be assigned to direct traffic in the route of the traditional procession of the image of the Black Naxarene.

"I’ll personally handle things there as early as 5 a.m We have sufficient personnel to cover the area. They’ll come from Sectors 2 and 3 of the district," Jamias said.

Chief Inspector Gerry Agunod, WPD spokesman, added that the other 100 policemen would augment those already detailed at the two substations in the area.

Thousands of mostly male devotees from all over the country participate in the annual feast in which the centuries-old black wooden image of the Señor Nazareno makes its way through key streets of the Quiapo district. Devotees in barefoot pull the caroza or carriage bearing the image through the streets.

The image goes through Plaza del Carmen, and the streets of Bilibid Viejo, Raon, Mendoza, Hidalgo, Carcer, Aguila, Legarda, Arlegui, Barbosa, Palanca, Gomez, Ronquillo, Evangelista, Puyat, Quezon Boulevard, and then to Plaza Miranda.

Meanwhile, the WPD started yesterday its preparations for the celebration of its 101st anniversary, also set tomorrow.

The celebration kicked-off yesterday with a mass blood-letting by Manila policemen at the WPD headquarters. – Mike Frialde