Palace says PNP coordinating with City officials
and church leaders to ensure solemnity and safety of the Feast of the Black
Nazarene
Malacañang assured on Sunday that the
Philippine National Police was on top on the preparations and 100 percent ready
to safeguard the millions of Catholic devotees who will troop to the Minor
Basilica of Quiapo in Manila to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene on
Wednesday, January 9.
Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in an interview aired over
government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, said that the Philippine
National Police was in “close coordination” with Manila City Hall officials,
church leaders and the Metro Manila Development Authority to ensure the
solemnity and safety of the occasion and the devotees.
“Our
officials of the Philippine National Police led by our NCRPO Chief Leonardo
Espina has been in close coordination with the local government unit as well as
the church officials of Quiapo to make sure that this year’s procession and
celebration will be solemn and safe,” Valte said.
She
called on the devotees to keep their children and personal belongings such as
cell phones and jewelry at home. She also asked those who are not up to joining
the procession due to sickness or age to “sit this one out.”
This
year’s procession of the Black Nazarene commemorates the 406th feast of the
“traslacion“ or the transfer of the Black Nazarene image from the Recollect
Church in Intramuros, Manila to the Quiapo Church in 1787.
An
estimated 11 million devotees are expected to join this year’s procession. PND
(rck)
