Strict security readied for Black Nazarene feast

MANILA, Philippines – With over 5,000 policemen deployed to guard the feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila on Jan. 9, the military is set to enforce stringent security measures for the annual religious event to ward off possible terror attacks.

This early, the military is taking proactive moves to ensure the safety of millions of people joining the Black Nazarene procession, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año said over the weekend. 

“As per our monitoring, we don’t see any actual threat in Manila, but just the same, we are preparing and focusing our security efforts for the feast of the Black Nazarene,” Ano said.

The AFP chief issued this statement after the Hilongos, Leyte plaza bombing, believed to be perpetrated by members of the homegrown Maute terror group.

Security officials warned that the terrorist group, whose main body is being chased by the military in Butig, Lanao del Sur, could send members to launch diversionary attacks in urban centers like Metro Manila.

Año said the military and the police need the public’s support to ensure safety in the religious procession.

“This early, we are enjoining the general public to report anything suspicious in the surroundings. This information alone is a big help to us,” Año said.

He added that a daily security update is already being done by concerned agencies to determine which security measures to use during the procession. 

“Our appropriate counter-measures will depend on our security assessment,” Año said, while not ruling out the blocking of all phone signals within the general vicinity and on the actual route of the procession.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it is ready for the feast of the Black Nazarene and is in full alert as well.

NCRPO director Oscar Albayalde said the Manila Police District (MPD) would serve as the ground commander, to be joined by cops from various district police offices in the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

“We will deploy a lot of policemen because we are expecting millions of devotees of the Black Nazarene,” Albayalde said, adding K-9 units would also be there.

“We want to prevent any spillover of bombing,” Albayalde explained. “So, we want to ensure that all our measures are in place.”

But he said there is no need for the public to worry, as there is so far no clear and imminent danger of terror threats in Metro Manila.