10,000 cops to secure Sto. Niño feast

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District (MPD) will deploy personnel to secure the Feast of the Sto. Niño in Pandacan and Tondo this weekend.

In a dzMM report yesterday, MPD director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said 1,000 personnel would secure the feasts to be held at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño in Tondo and in Pandacan.

Police will implement the same security measures enforced during the Black Nazarene feast in Quiapo.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna imposed a liquor ban in Tondo and Pandacan from Jan. 14 to 15.

A motorcade of the Sto. Niño image will be held in Tondo on Saturday and Sunday.

The “Buling Buling” Festival marked by cultural dances for the revered image will be held at Liwasang Balagtas in Pandacan on Saturday.

Street parties and festivities for the Sto. Niño image were suspended in the past two years due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the peaceful celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Abalos said the PNP and the Manila city government managed to secure the “Walk of Faith” where over half a million devotees joined.

–  Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Romina Cabrera A Taguig City court yesterday denied the motion for reconsideration filed by model Deniece Cornejo, seeking to reverse the bail granted to television host-comedian Vhong Navarro.

Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 69 Presiding Judge Loralie Datahan dismissed the motion for lack of merit.

“At the outset, a perusal of the instant motion readily reveals the absence of any conformity from the city prosecutor’s office. Time and again, the Supreme Court has emphasized that criminal actions should be prosecuted under the direction and control of the prosecutor,” the resolution read.

The judge said Cornejo’s appeal “deserves scant consideration from this court.”

Last December, Navarro was released from the Taguig jail after the court allowed him to post bail of P1 million.

Navarro is facing complaints for rape and acts of lasciviousness filed against him by Cornejo.