Metro Manila police chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin said he will deploy more than 10,000 cops to secure the traditional dawn masses or Simbang Gabi, which begins on December 16 until Christmas Eve.
Aberin said aside from churches, police personnel would also be stationed at transportation hubs where snatching cases and “salisi” incidents would likely increase again, as these mostly occur in crowded areas.
The Quiapo Church on Sunday meanwhile reminded the faithful not to eat inside churches, as the anticipated Simbang Gabi begins.
Rev. Fr. Robert Arellano, LRMS, parochial vicar of Quiapo Church, said individuals could bring candies with them.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David hopes that priests would give meaningful homilies during Simbang Gabi.
Quiapo Church will hold its Anticipated Mass at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Misa de Gallo, meanwhile, will be held at 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Aberin told ABS-CBN Teleradyo Serbisyo they are now deploying additional personnel from the District Mobile Force Battalion and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion to augment the personnel at their stations.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said it mobilized over 41,000 police officers nationwide as part of its “Ligtas Paskuhan” deployment plan for the 2024 “Simbang Gabi” activities in light of the annual Christmas season.
“Our police are already strategically deployed in areas where large crowds are expected, in places of worship nationwide,” said PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Jean Fajardo tolds GMA7’s Super Radyo DZBB.
Fajardo said the PNP personnel will be assigned to strategic locations to ensure public safety around churches during the nine-day Simbang Gabi, which begins on December 16 and ends on Christmas Eve, December 24.
“Every municipal station has a dedicated personnel, more or less, there are more than 41,000 police personnel that we will deploy for the Ligtas Paskuhan Deployment Plan,” she said.
Police assistance desks would also be placed near places of worship and transportation hubs to assist the public.
Further, the PNP would collaborate with local government units to manage traffic and control crowds for the duration of ‘Simbang Gabi.’ With Vince Lopez
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “PNP to deploy 41,000 personnel to ensure public safety for ‘Simbang Gabi’”
