MPD: 800 hijos-pulis to be deployed for Nazareno 2026

Around 800 “hijos-pulis” or police officers who are also devotees of the Jesus Nazareno image will be deployed during the Traslacion on Friday, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Monday.

In a press briefing, MPD chief Brigadier General Arnold Abad said these hijos-pulis will secure the andas or the carriage bearing the image of Jesus Christ.

“More or less 800,” Abad said when asked how many hijos-pulis will be deployed.

“Ang mga hijos-pulis po ay members ng PNP na deboto rin po. At sila po bilang deboto at police ang mangangalaga po sa andas. Sila po 'yung aming conduit para sa mga deboto,” he added.

(The hijos-pulis are members of the PNP who are also devotees. And they, as devotees and police, will take care of the andas. They are our conduit for the devotees.)

Previously, only civilian devotees or members of Hijos del Nazareno were tasked to guard the andas during Traslacion or the procession of the image from Quirino Grandstand back to Quiapo Church.

“Hindi po solely na hijos-pulis lang, kasama rin po ang Hijos del Nazareno. Actually, sila po 'yung nagte-train at nagtuturo dahil ito po 'yung mga bagong deboto at volunteers,” Abad said.

(It's not just the policemen, the Hijos del Nazareno are also included. Actually, they are the ones who train and teach the cops because these officers are the new devotees and volunteers.)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is aiming to cut the duration of the procession to around 15 hours. For Nazareno 2025, the procession lasted for over 20 hours.

No threats have been monitored so far in connection with the religious activity, according to the police.

The PNP earlier said that 15,000 cops will be deployed for the activity.

Traslacion commemorates the arrival of the image of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Lord Jesus the Nazarene) from Acapulco, Mexico to the Philippines in 1600's and the transfer from Bagumbayan (old Intramuros) to Quiapo Church - St. John Baptist Parish in 1767.

Here is the route of Traslacion this year: 

• From Quirino Grandstand 
• Left to Katigbak Drive
• Right to Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road
• Straight to Ayala Boulevard
• L Palanca
• R Quezon Boulevard
• R Arlegui Street
• R Fraternal Street
• R Vergara Street
• L Duque de Alba Street
• L Castillejos Street
• L Farnecio Street
• R Arlegui Street
• L Nepomuceno Street
• L Concepcion Aguila Street
• R Carcer Street
• R Hidalgo Street through Plaza del Carmen
• L Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat
• R J.P. de Guzman Street 
• R Hidalgo Street
• L Quezon Boulevard 
• R Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge 
• R Villalobos Street through Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church

—AOL, GMA Integrated News