Solcom dispatches 400 soldiers to Tacloban to help secure Pope Francis

LUCENA CITY, Quezon—Around 400 soldiers from the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command based here have been dispatched to Bicol and Tacloban to help secure Pope Francis and traveling religious pilgrims.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, Solcom commander, said in a statement on Tuesday that the soldiers from Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions would be flown to Tacloban City Tuesday and Wednesday to augment the security requirements for Pope Francis’ visit in the area on January 17.

Visaya said a Navy vessel would also be prepositioned at Matnog Port in Sorsogon while additional UH-1H helicopters would be on standby in Legazpi City for the security and safety of people who would be traveling to see Pope Francis during his visit to Tacloban.

Droves of religious pilgrims from Manila and other parts of Southern Luzon are expected to arrive in the coming days at Matnog port on their way to the Visayas.

“There are no monitored threats. However, we will continue monitoring and intensifying our security operations and not discount the possibility of some spoilers,” he said.

Visaya said all roads going to Manila and Visayas in connection with the visit of Pope Francis would be secured by the military and police for the safety of religious pilgrims.

“Security along national roads, conduct of checkpoints with the PNP, as well as security augmentation to the Philippine Coast Guard in major ports in Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions are among the primary activities of our forces before, during and after the papal visit,” Visaya said.

The safety of the people, who wish to personally see and listen to the Pope, is the primary concern of state security forces, according to Visaya.

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