Nazareno thanksgiving procession generally peaceful —NCRPO

Due to the implementation of an airtight security, Monday night's Black Nazarene Thanksgiving procession was generally peaceful, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Tuesday.

"Taking into account that the enhanced security approach for the thanksgiving procession has been effective, same security blueprint might be implemented for the 'Traslacion' of the Black Nazarene from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church in Manila on January 9," NCRPO acting director Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas said.

Sinas said more or less 10,000 policemen, together with forces from the Joint Task Force in the National Capital Region, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard and Task Force Quiapo, were deployed to maintain peace and order during the procession.

Sinas said the procession had a shorter duration compared to last year as it only lasted for one hour and 45 minutes, adding that more or less 70,000 devotees attended it.

Sinas has pushed for new policies for the Black Nazarene Thanksgiving procession to make the activity more orderly and safe for participants.

He said he wants to keep devotees to stay behind the carroza throughout the procession. —KBK, GMA News