Metro cops brace for Black Nazarene procession

MANILA, Philippines - After the generally peaceful celebration of the holidays, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is shifting its focus on securing the Feast of the Black Nazarene procession on Jan. 9.

NCRPO chief Director Leonardo Espina met yesterday with concerned officials and stakeholders of the procession to make the event more meaningful and solemn and reduce injuries among devotees.

Rev. Rick Valencia, parish priest of the Quiapo Basilica; Olivia Luces, director for the National Capital Region of the Office of Civil Defense; staff members and operations officers of the five police districts; and officials of the Special Action Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines attended the meeting.

Espina proceeded to the meeting after conducting an inspection of the firearms of NCRPO personnel to determine whether any gun was  fired i during the New Year revelry.

“Nobody among our rank and file fired their guns during the revelry and I would like to congratulate the men and women of the NCRPO for a  job well done,” said Espina. “Our next stop is the security of the Black Nazarene procession.”

Senior Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., NCRPO’s operation division chief, said at least 3,000 policemen would be deployed to secure the procession from the Quiapo Church and back.

Ramos appealed to devotees not to bring children, cellular phones and other gadgets and jewelry to the procession.

The organizing committee is expected to release today the schedule of activities leading up to the procession.

The Black Nazarene was brought out and paraded around the church at 3 a.m. last Tuesday as part of the traditional New Year’s Day celebration.

Last year, at least 708 persons were reported hurt during the procession attended by a large crowd of devotees.   – With Edu Punay