PNP: Protecting Pope harder than securing Barack Obama

Published January 6, 2015 5:56pm

Securing Pope Francis during his five-day visit to the Philippines next week is expected to be much more difficult than protecting United States President Barack Obama when the latter was in Manila last year, Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said on Tuesday.

While the PNP has not received any information on a threat on the Pope, Mayor said the agency is focused on challenges of huge crowds of Catholics expected to gather for the Holy Father's activities in Manila and in Tacloban City, Leyte.

"Ang difference is that, si Obama, walang crowd. From airport, diretso siya [sa location]," Mayor said in a news briefing, referring to the US leader's state visit to the Philippines last April.

"Ang crowd dito [kay Pope Francis], we expect millions darating," he added.

Pope Francis is scheduled to be in the country on Jan. 15 to Jan. 19. He is slated to hold masses at Mall of Asia and Quirino Grandstand in Manila and at Tacloban airport.

'Biggest security nightmare'

Even with the Philippines hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Conference leaders' summit in late 2015, Armed Forces chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Pope Francis' visit would be the "biggest security nightmare" the military would face this year.

"It's a security nightmare in a way, but kaya naman natin 'yun. We will just make do of the available forces. Joint forces na kami ng PNP," Catapang told reporters.

"This will be the biggest security nightmare that we can have. Of course, the coming APEC is also a security nightmare because we will see about how many state visitors," Catapang added.

Several heads of state are expected to attend the economic conference.

"Everything will have to be considered, kaya [mayroong] aircover kasi nakita 'yung stretch ng Roxas Boulevard, there's a lot of high rise buildings, so kailangan lalagyan mo din ng tao 'yun, so the devil is in the details talaga," Catapang said of the military's security preparations for the Pope.

He said that aside from Manila, the AFP has also firmed up security plans for the Pope in Tacloban.

Catapang said some 6,000 to 7,000 soldiers and 5,000 reservists would be deployed during the visit of the Pope.

Twice the number of PSG men

Meanwhile, Malacañang has announced that Pope Francis will be given twice the number of Presidential Security Group personnel that secures President Benigno Aquino III during official activities.

"Because of napakadami na pupunta, yung personality [ni Pope], nagse-serve din as challenge sa 'min 'yon," Mayor said.

"Challenging to plan sa security forces, everything is being considered, given the crowd na pupunta doon," he added.

However, he said the PNP was expecting zero incidents during the whole visit of the Pope.

The Pope will be welcomed by Aquino in Malacañang, and will visit Leyte, University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park. —Amanda Fernandez/NB/JST, GMA News

Tags: papalvisit, popefrancis, philippinenationalpolice