820K participate in Peñafrancia procession in Naga

LEGAZPI CITY – An estimated 820,000 devotees participated in the traslacion procession on Friday night as part of the Peñafrancia Festival 2026 in Naga City, the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) reported on Saturday.

PRO-5 Director Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio said in a news release that the traslacion procession was peaceful, orderly and generally secure.

Police personnel were deployed in strategic areas, particularly at locations identified as potential crowd congestion points.

As part of preventive measures, police used placards and public reminders to ask devotees to secure their belongings, stay hydrated, remain with companions, and report suspicious activities or emergencies to authorities.

The police's Oplan Bandillo disseminated safety reminders and advisories, reinforcing the importance of cooperation, discipline and compliance with safety measures during the procession.

Closed-circuit television cameras were installed and drones used in strategic areas to monitor crowd movement and provide security personnel with real- time situational awareness.

Starlink devices supported communication among police units, particularly in areas where conventional communication networks could become limited or congested because of the large crowd.

“The peaceful and orderly conduct of the traslacion is a shared accomplishment. We thank our devotees, the Bicolano community, our partner agencies, local government units, force multipliers and volunteers for their cooperation and support,” Silvio said.

“The success of our security operations reflects our collective determination to protect our people while allowing our devotees to observe this important religious tradition safely and peacefully.”

He said security operations will continue until the conclusion of the Peñafrancia Festival, to be highlighted by the fluvial procession along the Naga River on Sept. 19.

The festival honors Bicol patroness Our Lady of Peñafrancia, locally called "Ina" (mother), and is considered the biggest Marian event in Asia. (PNA)