Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has issued high praise for the thousands of police officers who secured the historic and nearly 31-hour procession of the Black Nazarene in Manila. The massive security operation, which involved at least 18,000 personnel, was hailed as a success despite the unprecedented length and scale of the religious event.
An Unprecedented Test of Faith and Security
The 2026 Traslacion, which began at approximately 4 a.m. on Friday, January 9, from the Quirino Grandstand, set a new record as the longest in the tradition's history. The andas, or carriage, bearing the image of Jesus Nazareno completed its journey to Quiapo Church after 30 hours and 50 minutes, finally arriving at 10:50 a.m. the following day.
Nartatez emphasized the dual significance of the event, stating it was not only an "impressive show of faith and devotion by millions of Filipino devotees" but also a "remarkable display of discipline, perseverance, and commitment" by the police force. He commended ground commanders and uniformed personnel for their hard work and dedication, performed despite fatigue and lack of sleep, to strictly implement public safety and crowd management measures.
Drone footage and crowd estimates indicated that a staggering 7.3 million devotees converged across various points in Manila, from the starting point along the procession routes to the final destination. To manage this immense crowd, the PNP deployed a massive force, with additional officers brought in from Police Regional Office 3 and Police Regional Office 4A (Calabarzon) to augment the Metro Manila police.
A Peaceful Outcome Amidst Solemn Tragedy
The top cop declared the overall operation a success, attributing the peaceful and orderly outcome to the professionalism and readiness of the police. "Overall, we consider the Traslacion generally peaceful and orderly despite the sheer volume of devotees," Nartatez said. He highlighted that operational readiness was key in preventing major untoward incidents during the lengthy event.
However, the celebration of a successful security mission was tempered by tragedy. Nartatez expressed his sympathy regarding three reported fatalities during the procession, all due to medical emergencies. The victims included a 55-year-old photojournalist for the tabloid Saksi, Itoh Son, who suffered a fatal heart attack while covering the event in the early morning hours. The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office confirmed his passing. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) confirmed two additional devotees also died.
This sobering outcome prompted Nartatez to note, "This serves as a solemn reminder of the physical risks involved in massive gatherings, and we will further strengthen our crowd management, medical coordination, and safety measures in future events."
Collaboration and Looking Ahead
In his concluding remarks, the PNP Acting Chief extended his gratitude beyond the police force. He thanked personnel from other government agencies for their augmentation support, members of the media for their extended duty in keeping the public informed, and most importantly, the millions of devotees for their cooperation which was vital to maintaining order.
The record-breaking 2026 Traslacion has set a new benchmark for both religious devotion and large-scale event security management in the Philippines. The PNP's performance under extreme conditions has been highlighted, even as lessons are taken from the tragic losses to improve future safety protocols for the nation's largest gatherings.
