Pope Francis visit a ‘big challenge’ to security –Roxas
November 26, 2014 5:04pm
The five-day visit of Pope Francis in January next year will pose a “big challenge” to security, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas admitted Wednesday, noting the large number of Filipinos who want to see the pope in person.

“It's a big challenge para sa lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan," Roxas said in an interview, stressing that concerned agencies are in the thick of preparations for the January 15 to 19 papal visit.

The Philippine National Police is under the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Roxas explained that the majority of the country's 100 million population would want to take a glimpse of Pope Francis. He said the last time a pope visited the country in 1995, the country's population was only at 68 million.

“A roughly 50 percent increase in population pero hindi naman lumaki ang Luneta, hindi naman lumaki 'yung mga kalye,” he said.

Pope Francis will be the third pontiff to visit the country, after Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1981 and 1995.

Pope Francis, during his five-day stay in the Philippines, will visit Manila and Tacloban City.

Roxas said the security for the papal visit is being coordinated with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., who chairs the Papal Visit 2105-National Organizing Committee.

Security threats

Meanwhile, Roxas said there is still no specific threat against the Pope.

"As of yesterday, ayon sa NSA (National Security Agency), wala, so far, walang nakikitang specific na threat,” he said, adding however that “the usual general threats are always present.”

“Ang nais natin talaga walang mangyari sa Santo Papa. It's a tough situation,” he said. —KBK, GMA News

Go to comments



We welcome healthy discussions and friendly debate! Please click Flag to alert us of a comment that may be abusive or threatening. Read our full comment policy here.
Comments Powered by Disqus