CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The police and military will enforce strict border controls and jam mobile phone signals for a safe and peaceful Traslacion during the Feast of the Black Nazarene in this city on Tuesday, January 9.

THE image of the Black Nazarene is revered during the Traslacion 2023 in Cagayan de Oro City. (Cagayan de Oro City Police Office)

Police Lt. Col. Rey Gaudencio Taboclaon, deputy director for operations of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO), said random checkpoints are in place in Barangays Bulua, San Simon, Mambuaya, Indahag, Bugo, and Upper Puerto.

Intensive and non-stop checkpoints spearheaded by the City Mobile Force Company and Task Force Oro, he said, will be conducted 30 minutes before the start of Traslacion.

“There is scrutiny that will happen in these checkpoints in order for us to peacefully conduct the Feast of the Black Nazarene,” Taboclaon said in a press conference at the Jesus Nazareno Parish here on Wednesday, January 3.

He urged those who would want to enter this city in the morning of January 9 to come early.

Apart from strict border controls, the COCPO requested that telecommunications signals be cut from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. on January 9 based on their coordination with the Jesus Nazareno Parish.

The feast starts on January 8 when the image of the Black Nazarene is brought to the Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral from the Jesus Nazareno Parish  around 9 p.m. A Mass will be held from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.

THE Jesus Nazareno Parish Church, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department, and Roads and Traffic Administration hold  a press conference on January 3 on this year’s Traslacion on January 9. (Franck Dick Rosete)

On January 9, a Mass will be held at 4 a.m., followed by the procession of the Black Nazarene from Saint Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral, passing through Fernandez St., Don Apolinar Velez St., and CM Recto Ave., and ending at Jesus Nazareno Parish.

Engr. Nonito Oclarit, department manager of the Roads and Traffic Administration, said they will deploy 130 traffic enforcers dedicated to the Traslacion, aside from enforcers assigned to various areas in this city.

The COCPO deputy city director said they would deploy a sufficient number of personnel during the religious activity.

Taboclaon added that they will use the security arrangement used in the Traslacion last year. It contained five layers of security: Hijos and Hijas (first layer), COCPO personnel (second layer), augmentation (third layer), Task Force Oro personnel (fourth layer), and barangay tanods (fifth layer).

During Traslacion, authorities remind the public not to bring expensive gadgets, jewelry, bottled waters, tumblers, and huge amounts of money.

They also said that wearing shades, caps, backpacks, and drones are prohibited during Mass and procession.

Also barred during the procession are children, pregnant women, and individuals not feeling well.