The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
In the country’s largest-ever security preparations, Philippines authorities will deploy more than 37,000 military and police personnel, and ban backpacks and umbrellas at the Rizal Park during an open-air Mass as Filipinos eagerly await the arrival of Pope Francis, the third Vatican prelate to visit Asia’s largest Catholic nation.
“We are making sure that everything goes on as planned,” Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, the Armed Forces chief of staff, said. “We don’t want any untoward incident. We are prepared. But we are also preparing for the unexpected. So, we are simulating all possible scenarios.”
Philippines authorities simulate on Monday (January 12) the movement of Pope Francis upon his arrival in the country late this week as part of all-out security preparations for the four-day papal visit.
Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), earlier said authorities timed the actual movement of the Pope from the airport to the Papal Nuncio’s residence in Manila, passing through a designated papal visit lane.
Throngs of Filipino Catholic faithful were expected to welcome the Pope, who will not ride on a bullet-proof pope mobile just like his predecessor, raising an unprecedented security scenario for authorities monitoring potential risks and threat to the former archbishop of Buenos Aires who was elected Pope in 2013 after the German Pontiff resigned.
For instance, commandos are prepared to rappel up and down from military helicopters to rescue the Pope, if necessary, in the event the expected huge crowd at Rizal Park, where he will celebrate Mass on January 18, turned uncontrollable or unruly.
About a hundred snipers will be perched on high-rise buildings around Rizal Park and the University of Santo Tomas, the sites of two of three public appearances of Pope Francis; the Pope will also say Mass at the Tacloban airport.
Last week, President Aquino met with his security officials and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church led by Luis Cardinal Antonio Tagle to check on security preparations.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, MMDA, Department of Public Works and Highways, the military and police also monitored the Black Nazarene procession to make adjustments on how to control the huge crowd at the Luneta.
Police and military intelligence units fanned out to closely monitor the traditional security threats, such as the Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and sympathizers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), also known at the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (Isil).
They are also coordinating with foreign-intelligence agencies to monitor threats coming from outside the Philippines.
“So far, we have not detected movements and activities of internal security threats,” Col. Restituto Padilla, spokesman for the Armed Forces, said. “We continue to monitor them.”
Police are more concerned about possible stampede as people rush to see the Pope. Malacanang said it would launch a massive information drive to ask people to maintain order during the Pope’s visit.
“The President has banned umbrellas and backpacks in public venues where the Pope will have an appearance,” Herminio Coloma, Malacañang’s communications secretary, said. “Authorities have also banned people from camping out at Luneta to wait for the Pope.”
Church and Catholic schools are also recruiting volunteers to form a human barricade to protect the Pope.
