As the Philippines prepares for one of the country’s largest religious gatherings, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has shifted its operational focus to the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9. Following the recent Christmas and New Year’s Day deployments, authorities are now ramping up security and intelligence efforts ahead of the annual event, which draws millions of faithful to Quiapo, Manila.
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. highlighted the importance of this deployment in a news release Sunday, noting that police officers have been stationed since January 2 to oversee Masses, community activities around Quiapo Church, and the ceremonial blessing of Nazareno replicas.
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Massive Deployment Across Manila and Neighboring Regions
The first Sunday Mass last January 4 at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno was heavily secured in anticipation of the week-long festivities. The Traslacion, the hallmark procession that traces the transfer of the Black Nazarene from Bagumbayan to Quiapo Church, will cap the celebrations and typically draws massive crowds.
Authorities have prepared for the influx by deploying an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 police personnel across Manila and adjacent provinces, supplemented by reinforcements from Central Luzon and Calabarzon, which includes Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. Coordination with the Manila city government, Quiapo Church, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and other agencies has been ongoing for two months to ensure smooth operations.
Medical teams and specialized units will also be on standby, with the PNP reminding the public to follow safety protocols during the Traslacion. While no specific threats have been identified for this year’s celebration, Nartatez emphasized the necessity of vigilance.
“Every year has a different security challenge, but the objective remains the same: To ensure the safety of the millions of devotees and to maintain peace and order at the span of the annual religious activity. Your PNP is ready, but we still ask for vigilance and cooperation from the public to achieve our goal,” Nartatez said, stressing that public collaboration remains key to a safe event.
Expecting Millions of Devotees
“Your National Capital Region Police Office will need reinforcements. So, we’ll be deploying from Central Luzon and Calabarzon. In total, there will be about 15,000 police officers and more,” Nartatez stated in an interview on Unang Hirit, underscoring the scale of the preparations.
The PNP has been coordinating for two months with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other government bodies to handle the expected crowd of around five million devotees. This year’s festivities carry the theme “Dapat Siyang Tumaas at Ako Nama’y Bumaba (John 3:30).”
The extensive planning and deployment demonstrate the government’s commitment to ensuring that Filipinos can safely participate in this deeply spiritual tradition. Beyond the devotees in Manila, the preparations highlight the broader capability of national and local agencies to manage large-scale public events, reinforcing public safety standards and emergency readiness across the country.
