'Generally peaceful' Simbang Gabi in Metro Manila – NCRPO
This year’s traditional “Simbang Gabi” celebration culminated peacefully in Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Christmas Day on Sunday, Dec. 25.

Police Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, NCRPO regional director, said there was no reported incident of illegal discharge of firearms, casualties of stray bullets, and fire incidents due to firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices during the duration of the nine-day pre-dawn masses that ended on Saturday.
He added that there was also no arrest made based on possession, use, and sale of firecrackers while no firecracker-related injury was monitored in the entire region during the said period.
“In sum, no untoward ‘Simbang Gabi’-related incident was noted throughout the nine-day devotional series of masses metro-wide,” Estomo reported.
Estomo underscored that the year 2022 reached an all-time low of 100 reported index crimes during the duration of Simbang Gabi from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24 in the past three years, citing police records.
The in-person gathering for Simbang Gabi had been halted in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it was only this year that it returned.
“We are happy that generally, we were able to peacefully and solemnly secured the ‘Simbang Gabi 2022 with no recorded significant incident,” Estomo said.
The devotional, nine-day Catholic Masses is traditionally observed by devout Catholics in anticipation of Christmas Day and in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.