NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Major General Jonnel C. Estomo on Monday said the conduct of the traditional nine-day “Simbang Gabi” and the observance of Christmas in Metro Manila was “generally peaceful” with nary a single untoward incident recorded by the metropolitan police force.

The NCRPO chief expressed their full appreciation for the support given by the citizenry and their “force multipliers” in their effort to ensure that there won’t be any trouble during the recent Christmas festivities in the metropolis.

According to the official, their official data disclosed “zero” occurrences of illegal discharge of firearms, casualties of stray bullets, and fire incidents due to firecrackers/ pyrotechnic devices on Christmas Day.

Moreover, no arrest based on possession, use, and sale of firecrackers, as well as casualties due to use of the same, was also recorded, he added.

In sum, no untoward Simbang Gabi-related incident was noted throughout the nine-day devotional series of masses metro-wide, Estomo said.

Statistically metro-wide, in three years within the same period, December 16-24, this year hits the real-time low of only 100 in the descending trend of index crimes recorded compared to 190 in 2020 and 154 in 2021.

“We are happy that generally, we were able to peacefully and solemnly secured the ‘Simbang Gabi 2022’ with no recorded significant incident. This will not be possible without the help and support of those who participated, our team, and of course, our force multipliers. Thank you very much,” the Metro Manila police director said.

Filipino Catholics celebrate Simbang Gabi (night masses) in the lead-up to Christmas under the belief that when diligently completed, prayers will be answered.

It is comparable to the “Misa de Aguinaldo” – or nine dawn masses leading up to Christmas eve, practiced in Puerto Rico.

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Alfred P. Dalizon