PNoy’s guards to secure Pope Francis during PHL visit

The Presidential Security Group (PSG) will be tasked to protect Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines in January next year, Malacañang said Friday.

At a press briefing, presidential spokesman Secretary Edwin Lacierda said the Pope will be given "the kind of protection that has been provided" to President Benigno Aquino III.

"There will be a coordination between the Swiss Guards and also the PSG. Hindi lang natin masasabi ang detalye kasi isyu ito ng kanyang security," Lacierda said.

He nevertheless assured the public that Pope Francis "will be as visible as the other Holy Fathers who have come before" despite the tight security to be provided by the PSG.

Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the head of state of Vatican City, is scheduled to visit the Philippines from January 15 to 19 next year.

Manila Archibishop Luis Cardinal Tagle said the Pope would visit areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas as well as some places in Manila.

Last July, Aquino asked the entire government to ensure the success of the papal visit.

The Philippines is the largest Roman Catholic nation in Asia. More than 80 percent of the over 100 million Filipinos are Roman Catholics. —KBK, GMA News