MMDA activates Task Force Phantom for papal visit, holidays, APEC summit

 

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Wednesday formally activated an elite task force to secure Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines in January.

 

Dubbed Task Force Phantom, the elite group will also include members from the Philippine National Police, GMA News' Ivan Mayrina reported on "Unang Hirit."

 

It will help as well in securing the holiday shopping season, the Feast of the Black Nazarene in January, and the Philippines' hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next year.

 

"(Sa papal visit), kasama sila sa crowd control, traffic management, at pag-escort ng convoy sa mga engagement," MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said on "Unang Hirit."

 

"Magsisimula ang pag-duty nila, pagbantay ng trapik sa tagiliran ng malls sa Christmas season," he added.

 

He added the task force will be deployed to both Manila and Tacloban, where Pope Francis will have engagements during his visit from Jan. 15 to 19.

 

The task force will focus on security and traffic management, he said.

 

He added the traffic management during the Christmas season will help train the task force for the papal visit.

 

Uniforms

 

Tolentino said the task force will have gala uniforms for the papal visit as well as for APEC events.

 

A photo posted by the MMDA on its Twitter account showed Tolentino inspecting the members of the elite task force.
 

ADVISORY: Chair Tolentino deploys TF Phantom to assist in the holidays, the Papal Visit, & APEC Summit. Ten-4. #mmda pic.twitter.com/zymj9btYXB

— Official MMDA (@MMDA) November 26, 2014

Female members

 

 

The task force that will escort the pope includes five female members who underwent rigid training for their mission.

 

"Masaya po, at pribilehyo ko. First time ko mag-escort, proud na proud po ako. Sa dami namin, kaming lima ang napiling mag-escort," said traffic constable Weng Capistrano, one of the team leaders.

 

She said they were trained to ensure the security of the VIP they are escorting.

 

Capistrano also said she does not feel much pressure because she has taken a motorcycle training course. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News