Jamaine Punzalan

Catholic devotees flock to the St. Peter Parish: Shrine of Leaders in Quezon City for the first day of "Simbang Gabi" or Dawn Mass on December 16, 2024. Simbang Gabi is a nine-day series of Masses leading up to Christmas Day. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Simbang Gabi Starts

Karen De Guzman

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176577668058220241216-simbang-gabi-st-peter-MD1686.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Catholic devotees flock to the St. Peter Parish: Shrine of Leaders in Quezon City for the first day of &quot;Simbang Gabi&quot; or Dawn Mass on December 16, 2024. Simbang Gabi is a nine-day series of Masses leading up to Christmas Day. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday advised parents to accompany their minor children during Simbang Gabi celebrations to help prevent riots and other disturbances, especially involving teenagers.Police Colonel Julius Caesar Domingo, chief of the Public Safety Division of the PNP Directorate for Operations, noted some incidents recorded during previous Simbang Gabi masses involved youths aged 15 to 18.“Sa ating mga kabataan, dapat iwasan ‘yung makipaggulo. Alam naman natin na ang purpose nila is magsimba, not to commit na manggulo,” Domingo said during a press briefing.He reminded both parents and young churchgoers that minors aged 15 and above are no longer exempt from criminal liability under the law.“Sabihin natin sa age na 15, hindi na sila exempt sa criminal liability, so mas maganda kung maaari even doon sa mga parents na kung’ yung mga anak nila ay magpapaalam na magsisimba, as much as possible samahan na rin nila,” he added.To ensure public safety, the PNP will deploy more than 100,000 police personnel nationwide during the Christmas season. Police officers will be stationed at places of worship, commercial areas, transport terminals, major thoroughfares, tourist destinations, community fireworks display sites, firecracker zones, as well as barangays and fixed visibility points.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/12/05/22/ncrpo-to-deploy-secret-cops-for-holiday-season">NCRPO to deploy &#x27;secret&#x27; cops this holiday season</a></div>Domingo said Simbang Gabi security operations would start as early as Monday night due to anticipated evening masses.“We expect by 9 p.m., 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. meron na tayong mga mass sa mga churches and may mga deployment ng ating mga kapulisan sa mga Catholic churches nationwide,” he said. The PNP remains under heightened alert status, which has been in effect since last month. Regional directors, Domingo said, are authorized to place their areas under <a href="http://PNP to enforce ‘one-strike policy’ over indiscriminate firing incidents">full alert </a>if the situation requires it.Intelligence units are also actively coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, with additional personnel deployed in parking areas to prevent theft, including car break-ins and motorcycle carnapping.Despite the heightened security, the PNP said there were no confirmed threats against churches during Simbang Gabi.The PNP reiterated its call for cooperation from the public to ensure peaceful and meaningful Simbang Gabi celebrations nationwide.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/12/pnp-to-enforce-one-strike-policy-over-indiscriminate-firing-incidents-1559">PNP to enforce ‘one-strike policy’ over indiscriminate firing incidents</a></div>

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday advised parents to accompany their minor children during Simbang Gabi celebrations to help prevent riots and other disturbances, especially involving teenagers.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday advised parents to accompany their minor children during Simbang Gabi celebrations to help prevent riots and other disturbances, especially involving teenagers.

PNP urges parents to accompany minors during Simbang Gabi to prevent disturbances

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PNP urges parents to accompany minors during Simbang Gabi to prevent disturbances

Karen De Guzman

Published Dec 15, 2025 01:33 PM PHT

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