MANILA, Philippines — Around 7,000 policemen were deployed in Metro Manila to secure churches and other places of convergence during the traditional Simbang Gabi or dawn mass, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said yesterday. Albayalde attended the dawn mass yesterday together with his family at the St. Joseph Chapel at Camp Crame in Quezon City. The PNP chief earlier ordered tighter security around churches to prevent any untoward incident during the Simbang Gabi. Church thanks PNPManila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle thanked the PNP for putting in place security measures during the observance of Simbang Gabi. The first dawn mass was generally peaceful, he said.

Source: Philippine Star December 16, 2018 16:00 UTC