PRO 10 intensifies security measures for Black Nazarene

• Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1003815
• Thursday, January 5, 2018

(PRO10)

CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro – Security measures for the Feast of Black Nazarene on January 8 and 9 are all set.

According to PCSupt Timoteo G Pacleb, Police Regional Office (PRO) in Northern Mindanao, the Holy Mass at Nazareno Church and the procession is expected to draw huge crowd of parishioners and devotees from Cagayan de Oro City, nearby provinces and cities.

PRO 10, in close coordination with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cagayan de Oro City, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD), Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Hijos, Highway Patrol Units, and other law enforcement agencies and private agencies, are all geared up in ensuring a secured and peaceful feast and procession of Black Nazarene after a final security coordinating conference was held at the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) Headquarters on January 5, 2018.

This is in anticipation to the thousands of parishioners and devotees who will flock at the venues to attend the Holy Mass and go along with the procession, which may be taken advantage by lawless elements to carry out their nefarious activities such as pickpocketing, snatching, motornapping, carnapping and harassment.

Pacleb said that maximum number of personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) would be deployed in different key areas, thoroughfares and public assistance desks to provide security assistance to the two-day religious activities.

"We will also deploy drones in all strategic areas for us to monitor movements to the lower ground. Likewise, all possible counter-measures are being undertaken by joint security forces from PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)," said Pacleb.

Organizers made slight changes in this year’s route for safety considerations. This year’s Translacion will go back to the original route, which will start from St Augustine Cathedral and will end up to the Nazareno Church, passing through Fernandez Street, Velez Street and CM Recto Avenue. The procession will start at 5:00 a.m. on January 9, 2018 and is estimated to end in about two hours.

Pacleb asked for the cooperation of the public by being alert, observant, vigilant and security conscious during the Translacion of the Black Nazarene.