MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District will deploy at least 2,000 MPD personnel to secure 61 Catholic churches in the city as the traditional Simbang Gabi or dawn mass starts today.
A minimum of four police officers will be posted in each church for the dawn mass, according to MPD director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon.
The rest of the police officers will be on rotation for bicycle, motorcycle, foot and mobile patrols, Dizon said.
He said roving police cars would also be deployed to secure the churches.
The MPD personnel will be augmented by force multipliers from the barangays, Dizon said.
Among the prominent churches to be secured by police are the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Sto. Niño Church in Tondo and the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church.
A total of 13,000 police personnel will be deployed to protect church-goers during the nine-day dawn mass, according to the National Capital Region Police Office.