The Traslacion, which involves transferring the images of the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe from Cebu City to the National Shrine and Parish of St. Joseph in Mandaue City then transferring them to the Nuestra Señora de la Regla Parish National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City, is a traditional activity in line with the Fiesta Señor.
Colonel Elmer Lim, LCPO director, noted how crucial their security is considering that the image may stay for about five to seven hours in the city before it will return to the Basilica del Sto. Niño in Cebu City through a seaborne procession.
He said they will provide route and venue security, including traffic enforcers, as the last leg of the Traslacion from Mandaue to Lapu-Lapu is expected to start around midnight on Saturday from the National Shrine and Parish of St. Joseph to the Nuestra Señora de la Regla Parish National Shrine.
But prior to this, the first leg of the Traslacion that will start at the basilica all the way to Mandaue will start at 6:45 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 13.
After the mass at the Nuestra Señora de la Regla Parish National Shrine, the image of the Sto. Niño, Virgin Mary and St. Joseph will be brought to the Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) headquarters in Barangay Looc via motorcade.
The three images are then expected to depart from the Navforcen port around 6 a.m. on Saturday for the traditional seaborne procession back to Cebu City.
Lim said they will continue with their intelligence monitoring and 24/7 checkpoints, adding that personnel from the city’s tourist police will also be on alert.
Aside from prioritizing Lapu-Lapu City’s security during the Traslacion, Lim said they will also provide police personnel to Cebu City to help secure activities there in line with this year’s Fiesta Señor and the Sinulog Festival.
He said they will maximize their deployment of troops, adding that no one is allowed to take a leave of absence while fiesta activities are ongoing.