More cops to be deployed for Feast of Jesus Nazareno

FILE PHOTO: Parishioners flock at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila, on January 2, 2026, to attend Mass on the first Friday of the year. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

The Philippine National Police said on Monday it was beefing up its deployment of law enforcers to 18,212 for the series of events celebrating the Feast of Jesus Nazareno from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. earlier said that around 15,000 police officers would be assigned to secure the three-day event, ending in the “traslacion” or procession which is expected to draw millions of devotees.

The bulk of the police personnel will come from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), while the rest would be from the Police Regional Offices in Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regions, along with PNP and NCRPO support units, the PNP Special Action Force, in addition to other government agencies.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said at a briefing that they had already requested the Manila government to declare a liquor ban and the PNP national headquarters to impose a gun ban in the city from Jan. 8 to Jan. 10.

He added that the NCRPO also requested the National Telecommunications Commission to jam the signal for electronic devices along the traslacion route.