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Send-off held for Nazareno 2025 uniformed personnel 


A send-off ceremony was held on Monday for the uniformed personnel to be deployed on the Feast of Jesus Nazareno on Thursday, January 9. 

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Marbil led the ceremony held at the Quirino Grandstand, according to Super Radyo dzBB’s Sam Nielsen. 

Personnel from the PNP, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’  Joint Task Force NCR were present during the event. 

In Ian Cruz’s report on "24 Oras," a total of 14,500 law enforcers are expected to provide security during the annual feast. 

“Wala kaming nakikitang threat. Ang pinag uusapan lang namin yung maraming tao, mas maraming tao ang dadagsa ngayon kasi mas open then yung traffic. We don’t see any threat, but yung masasaktan,” said Marbil. 

(We don’t see any threat. What we are more concerned about is the number of attendees because more devotees will come and we are also concerned about the traffic. We don’t see any threat, but we worry about those who could be hurt.) 

Father Rufino Sescon Jr. of Quiapo Church also blessed the uniformed personnel present. 

After the ceremony, some policemen went straight to their duty in securing the grandstand where the image of Jesus Nazareno was already installed for the traditional “Pahalik.” 

Sescon said that the “Pahalik” could start on Monday evening if devotees would start lining up. The said tradition was supposed to start on Tuesday, January 7. 

“Kahit naman hindi pandemic mas hygienic at mas ligtas na ipunas natin at mag-sanitize tayo on or before ng pagpugay natin,” said Sescon. 

(Even though there’s no pandemic, it’s more hygienic and safe to just wipe your handkerchief or sanitize on or before we honor the Jesus of Nazareth.) 

Millions of devotees flock to Quiapo Church every January 9 to honor Jesus Nazareno in hopes of getting their prayers answered or receiving miracles. 

Among the highlights of the feast is the Traslacion, or the procession of the 400-year-old black image of Jesus Nazareno from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church. 

Malacañang earlier declared June 9 as a special non-working holiday in the City of Manila. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News