The Philippine National Police (PNP) has set up police assistance desks (PADs) near the churches as the “Simbang Gabi”, or midnight mass, which is traditionally heard by millions of Filipino Catholics on the days leading to Christmas Day, starts.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they have already set up and even deployed a sufficient number of uniformed personnel to secure the vicinity of the churches and ensure the safety of millions of churchgoers across the country.
“Simbang Gabi” is held from Dec. 16 to 24, and there is a belief that one could make his or her wish come true if he or she would complete all the nine days of mass.
The Archdioceses of Manila earlier said that “simbang gabi” can start as early as 7 p.m. for evening masses and at 5:30 a.m. for dawn or morning.
“Our security is already in place in all of the places of worship nationwide as directed by our Chief PNP (Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil),” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said those deployed to man PADs were among the 41,000 uniformed personnel that PNP tapped to secure the Christmas season.
Aside from churches, Fajardo said a sufficient number of policemen will also be deployed to secure malls, transportation hubs and other places of convergence.
Policemen, he said, will be augmented by personnel from other agencies like the Philippine Coast Guard and personnel from the local government units that include barangay security officers.