PNP chief serves as 'ninong' to 12 couples in V-Day mass wedding

MANILA, Philippines - A dozen policemen exchanged vows with their respective brides during mass wedding rites on Valentine's Day at the St. Joseph Chapel inside the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Solemnized by Reverend Bernardino Cortez, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, the mass wedding ceremony was organized by the PNP Chaplain Service under Senior Superintendent Deody Barret, Director of PNP-CHS.

The ceremony, including the reception, was provided by the principal sponsors, Director General PNP chief Alan Purisima and the PNP Command Group.

Police Senior Superintendent Romulo Esteban and Yolanda Esteban from the Directorate for Personnel Records Management of Police Regional Office 5, who were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, was the most senior pair among other 11 couples.

Each couple will also receive cash gifts from the PNP leadership.

The mass wedding rites is an annual event hosted by the PNP Chaplain Service to  allow police personnel the opportunity to  legitimize relationship with their partners.

Similar mass wedding rites are also held in different police regional offices and units.