Palace ‘will never be satisfied’ with papal security preparations

By: 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—“Today’s better than the previous day.”

Malacañang on Wednesday said the measures laid out to secure Pope Francis during his five-day visit will never be enough as it will be continuously improved.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

“The President has always said that he is never satisfied. It’s always a constant improving of the security situation and the security preparations,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.
“He’s very mindful of the surroundings. So all these inputs that the President has made, and continues to make, are made part of the security preparations,” Lacierda said.

President Benigno Aquino III personally inspected the general areas of the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila where Pope Francis will stay during his pastoral and state visit.

Aquino noticed the construction site of the controversial Torre de Manila near the Apostolic Nunciature and instructed that the crane should not block the flow of the people in the Vatican embassy.

Lacierda said they would continue improving the security measures until the big Eucharistic celebration in Luneta that is expected to draw around six million people.

“So we’ll try to keep on improving the security situation, the security preparations every day, and making sure that we’ve done our best,” Lacierda said. “We’ve done everything humanly possible to ensure the security of the Pope as well as the crowd.”