The traditional nine-day Simbang Gabi ended “generally peaceful” on Tuesday, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Filipino Catholic faithful trooped to churches for dawn Masses from December 16 to 24 as part of the tradition of Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo.
“As of kaninang madaling araw, umabot sa close to 40,000 ang dineploy natin. At doon sa pagtatapos ng Simbang Gabi kanina, overall naman ay naging generally peaceful,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo told Unang Balita in an interview.
(As of early this morning, we have deployed close to 40,000 personnel. Simbang Gabi ended earlier and it was generally peaceful.)
However, a riot involving around 40 minors was reported recently following a Simbang Gabi Mass at Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Caloocan City.
The altercation erupted along Jose P. Bautista Avenue, near the boundary of Barangays 79 and 80, where several minors began throwing Molotov cocktails at each other.
With the end of Simbang Gabi, Fajardo said the PNP will now focus on securing transportation hubs and markets.
“Yung ating focus naman ngayon na babantayan ay doon sa ating mga major transportation hubs, mga malls, at mga iba pang establisyimento, mga night markets dahil inaasahan nga po natin na yung mga hahabol pa para po sa bisperas po ng Pasko ay mamimili po at mag-iikot po ngayon,” she said.
(Our focus now is to watch over our major transportation hubs, malls, night markets, and other establishments because we expect that many people will catch up on shopping on Christmas Eve.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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