AN OFFICIAL of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said authorities are expecting over P200,000 devotees to join the traslacion of the Black Nazarene, on Wednesday, January 9.
Cocpo spokesperson Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa II said Tuesday, January 8, devotees coming from other areas in Mindanao and the Visayas are likely to attend the procession since security are already in place.
The procession will begin at 4 a.m.
Hortillosa said they believe more devotees will participate this year's procession because "they have seen successful city events with no untoward incidents and terroristic activities after the Marawi City war."
"Atong gituohan nga mas daghan karon kay nakita sa katawhan nga safe ang dakbayan kay daghan mga dagkong kalihukan nga successful," Hortillosa said.
He said the deployment of policemen and force multipliers are already in place after the final security briefing was held last Monday.
He said more than 900 policemen will be deployed near the Nazareno Church excluding personnel in checkpoints.
On the other hand, over 500 barangay police are helping maintain peace and order during the procession.
"Naa pay mga NGOs nga magtabang para ma maintain ang kalinaw," Hortillosa said.
The Cocpo spokesman also said personnel manning the checkpoints were already directed to intensify the one-on-one security inspection including private vehicles.
This is to ensure that lawless elements and individuals carrying unlicensed guns could not sneak in to the city.
Hortillosa also reiterated the do's and dont's during the procession.
The public is called to obey law enforcers on the ground.