The Philippine National Police (PNP) called on millions of devotees to join the solemn and safe celebration of the annual feast of the Black Nazarene.
PNP spokesman, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, urged devotees to remain calm, continue to cooperate and refrain from harming police officers deployed in areas on the path of the procession.
“We only want the Traslacion 2020 to be held successfully, safe and orderly, with no untoward incident for the benefit of all,” he added.
The procession or “Traslacion” officially started past 4 a.m. in Quirino Grandstand, Luneta where the carriage of the Black Nazarene was barricaded by a number of policemen as agreed by the law enforcers and organizers of this year’s Traslacion.
A total of 13,624 police officers will ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the procession in celebration of the annual feast of the Black Nazarene, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Banac also appealed for the devotees’ understanding of tight security being implemented which prevented them from getting near the image’s carriage.
“But like any introduction of change, we can always expect a level of resistance. In order to manage expectations, this change in security measures was disseminated way ahead of time through the media and also during the planning and rehearsals,” he added.
Meanwhile, PNP officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, lauded the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on its manner of handling the mammoth crowd.
Banac said Gamboa ordered the Metro Manila cops to maintain maximum tolerance and tight security posture until the Traslacion 2020 is finished.
“Now that Andas has already moved within the Quiapo area at the shortest period of time, the PNP leadership under Lt. Gen. Gamboa notes the commendable restraint and sacrifice by NCRPO personnel under Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas in the way they handled the crowd and call upon them to maintain maximum tolerance and tight security posture until the Traslacion 2020 is over,” said Banac.
At around 10 a.m., the image of the Black Nazarene passed by Arlegui St. in Quiapo. (PNA)
