Carlos Celdran INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–What if someone pulls off a Carlos Celdran “Damaso” scene amid Pope Francis’ engagements in the Philippines?
The Philippine National Police, whose personnel are in charge of crowd control during the papal visit, has some advice for those who will try to mar the sacred event.
“Let us focus on our actuations instead. Let’s change our minds and focus on strengthening our faith,” Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesperson, said in a press briefing.
If a person or a group will attempt to stage a protest in areas near the Pope, Mayor said they will practice maximum tolerance as much as possible.
“But still, our focus will be on the security of the pope and the people. However, security is only a part of protection. If the people violates this, the security can only do that much,” he added.
The court recently affirmed the conviction of Celdran for offending religious feelings after he staged a protest inside Manila Cathedral in 2010 holding a “Damaso” sign. Padre Damaso is an unsavory character in Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli Me Tangere.”
A total of 25,000 policemen were deployed to secure the places of the papal visit as early as Tuesday. Pope Francis is expected to arrive in the Philippines on Thursday afternoon via the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.
Mayor said the PNP is also encouraging its personnel to take their mission as frontliners of the security forces as a “privilege.”
“It is not the duty itself, but the opportunity and rare privilege to be part of the security and history. That’s the attitude that we have been implanting in security personnel,” he said.
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