By Chito Chavez and Leslie Ann Aquino
Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año assured devotees that “all bases are covered” to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration of the annual feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú today but appealed for the public’s cooperation to prevent any untoward incident.
He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is deploying 15,000 policemen in the crowd routes and other critical areas in Manila.
“Despite it taking a shorter route than usual, we guarantee the public and the devotees of the Santo Niño de Cebú that all bases are covered and all security measures are in place for the Annual Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020,” Año said.
“This annual display of faith is expected to attract thousands of believers kaya naman siniguro namin na makakaagapay tayo sa pagtitiyak ng seguridad ng lahat (That is why we have ensured that we are one in securing the safety of everyone),’’ he added.
Año said the DILG, PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and other law enforcement units have coordinated to ensure the smooth conduct of the yearly weekend religious gathering.
About 2,144 police officers from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and Special Action Force will secure the Andas Wall; 1,065 from the Eastern Police District will handle crowd control; and 1,206 from the Regional Headquarters and patrolmen will be stationed in the Quiapo Church Wall.
A huge chunk of the police force will be manning Segment 1-8 from Quirino Grandstand to Plaza Miranda comprising 7,191 cops; about 517 cops form the Manila Police District will man Segment A-G from Arlegui Street to Quezon Avenue; Area Security with 350; and 1,151 for the Support Unit.
“Alam nating ang ‘grand massive miracle crusade’ sa kapistahan ng Ang Banal na Sanggol ng Cebu ay isa sa mga pinakamasidhing pagpapakita ng pananampalataya ng ating mga kababayan na nagtitipon ng daang libong Pilipino kaya naman ginawa natin ang kinakailangang paghahanda at itinalaga ang ating kapulisan para sa kaligtasan ng lahat (We all know that grand massive miracle crusade is the feast of the Santo Niño de Cebú which is one of the most revered show of faith of the devotees. Hundreds of Filipinos gather in this celebration that is why we need to prepare and deploy police officers for the safety of everybody),” Año explained.
Ten fire trucks from the BFP will be on standby to respond to fire incidents while three water assets from the Philippine Coast Guard will also be deployed.
The DILG chief also sought the public’s and the devotees’ cooperation during the conduct of “Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020” to avoid accidents during the procession.
He pointed out that no matter how much the local government unit and other government entities have prepared, “if the participating public and devotees won’t behave accordingly, accidents may still happen.”
The Manila city government has suspended work and classes today.
Año encouraged the parents and devotees who will participate in the “Grand Massive Miracle Crusade 2020” to refrain from bringing their children, the elderly, and the sick in the procession for security and safety reasons.
Attend Mass
Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of Quiapo Church said aside from Manila, other areas like Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan de Oro, Catarman, Davao, General Santos, Panabo, Tagum, Antipolo, Cainta, Pampanga and Bulacan are also having their own protest rallies.
“More and more places are also holding it. For example in Nueva Ecija, it’s no longer just one parish that will observe, the cathedral in San Jose said they will also join,” Father Badong added.
“So even if they don’t go here, they still feel that they are part of the celebration as they have their own procession,” Badong said.
For those who will join the activity in Manila, there will be a slight change in the procession route: from Quirino Grandstand, left to Katigbak Drive thru Padre Burgos St., right Padre Burgos St. thru Finance Rd., left Finance Rd thru Ayala Blvd, left Palanca St., right Quezon Blvd, right Arlegui St, right Fraternal St, right Vergara St, left Duque de Alba St, left Castillejos St, left Farnecio St, right Arlegui St, left to Nepomuceno St, left Concepcion Aguila St, right to Carcer St., right to Hidalgo St. through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, left JP De Guzman St., right to Hidalgo St., left Quezon Blvd, right to Palanca St. thru under Quezon Bridge, right to Villalobos St. through Plaza Miranda all the way to Quiapo Church.
Unlike in the past, devotees will only be allowed to go up the “andas” (carriage) and touch the image from the rear side as some 2,000 policemen will be positioned in front and at the side of the carriage to stop people from blocking the route to speed up the procession.
With millions of devotees expected to participate in the procession, church officials asked the faithful to physically and spiritually prepare for the occasion.
The faithful were urged to go to mass. A vigil mass will be held at 1 a.m. on Sunday at the Quirino Grandstand to be presided by Quiapo Church rector Msgr. Hernando Coronel with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as homilist.
“It will be more meaningful if we attend mass. Be one in praying for a safe celebration,” said Badong.
Pregrant women and those who are sick are discouraged from joining the procession due to the expected big crowd.
This year’s Grand Massive Miracle Crusade will probably the last time Cardinal Tagle will join the celebration.
Tagle was appointed last month by Pope Francis as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the Vatican.
Tagle has always been present in the occasion since he became the Manila prelate in 2011.
Gun ban
Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has suspended all the Permits to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) starting Wednesday until 8 a.m. Friday.
“This part of the security preparations to ensure that the Feast of Santo Niño de Cebú will be free from firearm-related incidents and to ensure the safety of the populace as well as the local and foreign tourists,” NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas in a statement Wednesday.
Sinas explained that the PTCFOR suspension is in line with the concept of Enhanced Managing Police Operations in close coordination with the military and other law enforcement units.
“Only members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) who are performing official duties and in agency-prescribed uniforms shall be allowed to carry firearms,” said Sinas.
The PTCFOR suspension will be strictly implemented, according to Sinas, especially in Quiapo, Sta. Cruz and Binondo areas.
The NCRPO has initiated new measures to cut short the procession which usually lasts more than 20 hours.
“I have absolute faith that this will affect the maintenance of peace and order situation in the concerned areas,” said Sinas. (With a report from Aaron Recuenco)
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/01/08/all-bases-covered-for-a-safe-traslacion-ano/
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