THE Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. joined Black Nazarene devotees in praying for good health and prosperity and the most important of all, a peaceful and orderly Traslacion.

The 2nd major in-person Traslacion will be secured by more than 13,000 members of the Manila Police District (MPD) and other personnel from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), soldiers and other ‘force multipliers’ to ensure the event will be as peaceful as possible, Acorda said.

NCRPO director Major Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and MPD director Colonel Arnold Thomas Ibay are supervising security measures for the major Catholic event.

An estimated 2.5 million people are expected to attend the event. Although it has not monitored any security threats for the event, police are not keeping their guards down and are ensuring all security leaks will be plugged completely.

“Kagaya ng dati at lagi nating kinagawian, hindi tayo nagkukumpiyansa. Patuloy tayong nagba-validate ng mga information na nare-receive. Inin-intensify yung intelligence monitoring natin katuwang yung mga ibang security forces para kung meron man tayong nakikita na mga vulnerabilities as early as now nakakapaglatag tayo ng karampatang security measures to prevent any untoward incident,” said PNP spokesperson Col. Jean S. Fajardo.

A number of simulation and communication exercises have been done by the MPD in the area where the Traslacion will traverse.

The Traslacion will start from Quirino Grandstand; turn left to Katigbak St.; pass through Padre Burgos St.; and along Finance Road, and Palanca, Arlegui, Fraternal, Vergara, Duque de Alba, Castillejos, Farnecio, Nepomuceno, Concepcion Aguila, Carcer, Hidalgo, Bilibid Viejo, Gil Puyat and J.P De Guzman Sts.; under the Quezon Bridge; and Villalobos St. en route to Plaza Miranda right outside the church.

This year’s Traslacion will return to its old format after the celebration was called off in 2021 to 2023 due to COVID-19.

An estimated three million faithful joined the last Traslacion in 2020 which lasted for nearly 16-hours. In 2018 and 2019, police said the procession lasted for nearly 24 hours and were attended overall by around four million people.

A gun ban is already being strictly enforced by the police in Manila where some areas have also been declared as ‘no-fly zones’ for drones last Friday until Wednesday noon.

All Permit-to-Carry-Firearms-Outside-of-Residence issued to licensed gunholders have been suspended throughout Manila starting 12:01 a.m. of January 5, Friday up to 12:01 a.m. of January 10, Wednesday.

Police and the Coast Guard are also securing all ports and waterways near the vicinity of the venue. Police have also barred all vendors from plying their trade in the area where bomb-sniffing dogs and metal detectors have been deployed since last week.

Police have reminded the public to be wary of all prohibited items during the procession.

Ibay said that people entering the controlled areas are not allowed to bring backpacks that are not transparent, bottle canisters, umbrellas and ball caps to ensure the safety of the devotees.

Other prohibited items include bags, except if they are transparent which will make the police easily spot what’s inside, black garbage bags, cell phones, flammable items, food in barbeque sticks, fragile and sharp objects, alcohol, firearms and other deadly weapons, firecrackers and drone equipment.

Flying of drones in the area except those from the government will be strictly banned during the event.

However, Quiapo Church officials encouraged devotes to bring candles, rosary and novena prayer booklets, identification cards, transparent garbage bags and food and water.

Last year, tens of thousands of Black Nazarene devotees flocked to Quirino Grandstand and Quiapo Church to attend the first major in-person celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene after it was called off during the 1st three years of the pandemic.