NCRPO Ready to Secure Black Nazarene Feast on Saturday

With seven days left exactly before the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, the National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) has already formulated a security plan and assured the deployment of enough police officers to safeguard the annual religious procession.

In an interview, Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao, NCRPO chief, said that they already made the necessary preparations as the Manila Police District (MPD) is responsible for the route security for the motorcade and parade, crowd control and management.

According to Pagdilao, thousands of personnel coming from the Special Weapons and Tactics-Explosives and Ordnance Division (SWAT-EOD), traffic, emergency and response teams, intel/detective teams, route and venue security personnel will be deployed for the upcoming Feast of the Black Nazarene on Saturday.

“We (already) have a security plan for this annual festivity and (as a rule) do not provide the exact number of personnel to be deployed for this is an operational matter,” Pagdilao explained.

He noted that securing the occasion will be a whole government approach as every agency is contributing to make sure that criminals won’t be able to take advantage of the celebration.

”The NCRPO is ready for the feast of the Black Nazarene, particularly the MPD which is in charge of the security of the occasion. Other government agencies and organizations such as DOH,MMDA, DPWH, JTF NCR- AFP, BFP, Philippine Coast Guard, OCD, Red Cross. The national headquarters of the Philippine National Police will also constantly monitor the situation. The NCRPO will also deploy additional personnel to ensure an orderly and sacred feast of the Black Nazarene this Saturday (Jan. 9). It’s a whole of the goverment’s approach for the safety and security of the devotees and the general public,” Pagdilao told the Philippines News Agency (PNA).

Religious veneration of the Black Nazarene is rooted among may Filipino Catholics who commemorate the passion of Jesus Christ.

Many devotees of the Black Nazarene relate their poverty and daily struggles to the passion of Christ embodied by the religious image.

The procession during its feast every Jan. 9 commemorates the “Traslación”, referring to the transfer of the image to the Minor Basilica.

The Black Nazarene is borne in procession on its andas (carriage), accompanied by devotees clad in maroon who walk barefoot as both penance and in imitation of Jesus on his way to Mount Calvary.

Traditionally, only men were permitted to become “mamámasán” (devotees pulling the Ándas by its two ropes). However, in recent years, female devotees have also been allowed to do so.

It is believed that the Kanang Balikat, or the right shoulder side of the rope, is the most sacred side since this is the part where Jesus carried the cross.

Towels or handkerchiefs are hurled to the yellow-clad marshals escorting the Black Nazarene, with requests to wipe these on the statue in hopes that the miraculous powers attributed to it would “rub off” on the cloth articles. (PNA) BNB/CLTC/PFN