Palace: Security tightened to counter alleged terror attack on papal visit

By: Aries Joseph Hegina - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Tuesday said that the Philippine government is beefing up its security preparations ahead of the five-day papal and state visit of Pope Francis in January 2015.

The statement was issued by Malacañang amid reports that a 15-man”special operations group” of Al Hansar Khalifa, a jihadist group which allegedly has sworn allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), was deployed in Luzon in connection to Pope Francis’ visit in the country from January 15 to 19.

Pope Francis. AP FILE PHOTO

“Patuloy ang paghahanda ng buong pamahalaan upang mapanatili ang seguridad sa buong bansa para sa nalalapit na pagbisita ng Santo Papa, si Pope Francis, sa Enero ng susunod na taon. Nakatutok ang Sandatahang Lakas at ang Pambansang Pulisya upang pigilan ang ano mang banta sa seguridad ng bansa,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing.

(Preparations are ongoing to maintain the security of the country for Pope Francis’ visit in January next year. The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are on guard to counter any security threat directed to the country.)

Coloma added that the deployment of the “special operations group” remains unverified.

“Sa ngayon ay wala tayong beripikasyon diyan sa partikular na impormasyon na kababanggit mo lamang. Ang masasabi lang natin ay ito: Sa lahat ng pagkakataon ang ating mga awtoridad na mayroong tungkulin hinggil sa seguridad ng ating bansa ay ginagawa ang lahat ng nararapat in terms of surveillance, monitoring, pakikipagpalitan ng impormasyon sa kanilang mga katuwang na ahensiya sa ating mga kapit-bansa; at hindi nagpapabaya sa pagtiyak na mananatiling ligtas ang seguridad ng ating mga mamamayan,” Coloma added.

(As of now, we cannot verify that particular information. What we can say is that our authorities in charge of ensuring our nation’s security are doing their job in terms of surveillance, monitoring, and inter-agency exchange of classified information with our neighboring countries. They continue to ensure the safety and security of our citizens.)

Malacañang last week formed the inter-agency Papal Visit-National Organizing Committee by virtue of Memorandum Circular 72, which will organize the preparations for the Pope’s visit. The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been mobilized to ensure the Pope’s security during his stay in the country.