PNP on heightened alert for Black Nazarene 2023 feast

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said it placed its units on heightened alert for the activities related to the Feast of the Black Nazarene 2023.

At the press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said that it placed its units on heightened alert amid the start of the security coverage for the Black Nazarene festivities.

“On the part of the PNP, what we can confirmed po naka-heightened alert ang PNP because as everybody must know po nagsimula na po itong security coverage para sa pagbabalik nitong Traslacion dyan sa Manila particularly sa paligid ng Quirino Grandstand at Quiapo Church,” Fajardo said.

She said many police forces, including K9 units, were deployed in Manila areas to secure the safety of the devotees during the religious festivities.

The PNP spokesperson also confirmed that those vehicles inside the Camp Crame will also be used as part of their preparation in the Black Nazarene activities.

“Yung mga nakita natin na mga sasakyan sa loob ng Crame na navideohan po, we can confirm po that bahagi pa rin po ito ng paghahanda para sa traslacion itong mga sasakyan na ito po ay hinahanda natin,” she said.

"But this is just a normal practice on the part of the PNP na regularly po at least once a week, per week ay iniikot po itong malalaking sasakyan ng pnp para siguraduhin yung operational readiness anytime po na kailangan itong mga sasakyan na ito ay maayos po sa kondisyon po,” she added.

Around five million devotees are expected to participate in the Walk of Faith procession during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 8.

The Walk of Faith procession, which served as an alternative to the traditional Traslacion, will start from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church on January 8 from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Unlike in the Traslacion, the image of the Black Nazarene would not be exhibited during the Walk of Faith.

Fajardo, meanwhile, reminded the public to be vigilant especially on the social media posts.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, ang laging paalala na huwag basta-basta maniniwala sa mga nakikita ninyo nakapost particularly sa social media accounts lalo na hindi niyo kakilala at relating dito sa kumakalat na destabilization plot,” Fajardo said.

“As far as the PNP is concern we haven't receive any info relating po sa destabilization plot but nonetheless the PNP naka-maintain po yung ating heightened alert level dito sa coverage po sa inaasahang pagbabalik po ng mga kababayan sa mga probinsya dahil galing sa mahabang bakasyon at inaasahang pagdagsa ng mga kababayan dahil sa mga lalahok dito sa Traslacion,” she said.

“Huwag mangamba at yung ating peace and order situation remains manageable and under control ng [inyong] pambansang pulisya po,” she added.

Service interruption

Meanwhile, Globe said that it will inform its customers through SMS if there will be service interruptions in the [Quirino Grandstand and the Quaipo Church] area.

Smart, on the other hand, said that they did not receive an order for cellular shutdown.

Several roads will be closed to traffic on January 6 and 8 in light of the Nazarene 2023 activities, according to the Manila Police District.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has declared January 9, a special non-working day in Manila City for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. —LBG, GMA Integrated News