The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has received a terrorism threat report amidst the Black Nazarene's Traslacion but it turned out negative, according to its Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Tuesday, January 9.
"May impormasyon na dumarating pero sympre, hindi natin ipinagsasantabi iyon, i-validate natin. Parang imbestigador lang, lahat ng motibo, tingnan niyo. In fact, tiningnan namin ang anggulo and it turns out to be negative," Nartatez said in an interview with DZRH.
According to the NCRPO Chief, the terrorism threat was usually "high" during events that have big crowds like the Traslacion.
He assured that they were exerting efforts to thwart any act of terrorism.
"Mataas ang terror threat natin. Mataas ang probability na magkaroon ng ganiyang threat kasi nga ang activity is a major activity. Ang activity na ito ay kailangan pagtuunan ng pansin," Nartatez said.
"'Yung threat level dito sa Metro Manila, as of now, because of this activity ay mataas. Ibigsabihin, kung mataas ang threat level, kami ay gumagalaw para ma-deny ito. Sa lahat ng mga impormasyon na dumarating, vina-validate natin," the NCRPO Chief added.
He shared that since December, they have identified the potential individuals or groups that might commit crimes or terrorist acts amidst the sacred event.
"Noong una pa lang, pinulso na natin iyan. Not only diyan sa criminal elements but sa mga terrorista. Nagpalabas na kami weeks before, lalo na sa mga terorrist groups kung meron mga grupong ganyan. Inikutan natin ang mga personalites na pwedeng maghasik ng mga ganito. Sa katunayan, meron din tayong pinuntahan at kinwestyon na mga tao," Nartatez said.
As of 6 PM, the crowd estimate in Quiapo Church had reached more than 6.5 million, surpassing the 2 million projection of the Manila City government.
