Bicol contingent to secure Pope

At least 1,500 policemen would be pulled out of their assignments in the Bicol region for deployment to Tacloban City, to help provide security for Pope Francis during his visit to Leyte City on Jan. 17.

Senior Insp. Malu Calubaquib, spokesperson for the Bicol regional office of the Philippine National Police, said the policemen would come from different units in Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes.

They would be part of “Papal Visit Task Force Bicol,” the name given to the group of law enforcers from the region that would help secure Francis.

Calubaquib said most of the policemen had volunteered to serve as security force for the Pope and also wanted to have a glimpse of the leader of the Catholic Church.

She said a “1,000 percent security” setup would be in place in all venues of the Pope’s visit.

Calubaquib said some members of the Papal Visit Task Force Bicol had security in Tacloban City when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck the city in November 2013. With Ma. April Mier, Inquirer Southern Luzon