(L-R) Fr. Joe Quilong Quilong, Member Media Commite Papal Visit, Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Tagle and Director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr. Federico Lomabrdi at the Diamond Hotel for a press briefing during the papal visit in the country. ALEXIS CORPUZ
MANILA, Philippines—Even with Tropical Storm “Amang” threatening the papal visit’s culminating event, government officials said the Mass at Rizal Park on Sunday would push through as scheduled and asked the public to be ready for rain.
Even then, Pope Francis is expected to travel to the Luneta from the Apostolic Nunciature using the open popemobile.
Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican press secretary, also said Sunday’s papal events, especially the Mass at Rizal Park, would push through as planned despite the threatening storm.
The “intention” of the Mass is for the more than 6,000 people who died from the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the Eastern Visayas in November 2013, Lombardi told a press briefing on Saturday.
He said “the Pope held a Mass right away when he heard about the disaster that hit Tacloban.”
Authorities urged people to come early for the opening of the gates so the security check of their belongings will be made speedier.
Given the millions of attendees and the inclement weather, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the security check at the gates on Orosa Street could be slow.
“Please come early for the 6 a.m. opening of the gates because everything will be slower, because we expect people to bring raincoats, jackets and extra shirts which need to be inspected,” he said.
There will be 50 gates open on Orosa Street, Roxas told a press briefing on Saturday.
Travel light
People must clear metal detectors and walk through scanners, after which their belongings will be inspected by bag checkers as well.
While the public is discouraged from bringing backpacks, those who do bring backpacks will have to go through the metal detectors, and walk through scanners as well as an X-ray machine.
“If you don’t bring anything with you, you will go through the fast lane. It is still advisable to bring minimal belongings, or use a transparent plastic bag,” Roxas said.
He also recommended using transparent raincoats so it will be easier for policemen and soldiers to conduct a visual search of attendees.
Gates open at 6 a.m.
The gates on Orosa Street will be open starting 6 a.m. until the quadrants in front of Quirino Grandstand are filled up. Attendees are expected to have settled down by 2:30 p.m., or an hour before the papal Mass starts.
There will be 30 walk-through scanners and 20 portable metal detectors in all 50 gates, said Director Carmelo Valmoria, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Each quadrant will have a portalet, a water station and policemen designated to secure the people.
Chief Supt. Edgar Layon, head of Task Group Orosa, said the inspection devices would be shielded from the rain as tents would be set up as well.
After passing through the inspection devices, attendees will go through another security layer of 40 bag checkers before being let into the venue.
No overnight vigils
Authorities expect that there will be heavy activity at the security checks, with less people going through the express lane.
The public will not be allowed to conduct overnight vigils at Luneta and its surrounding streets.
“Actually, as early as Saturday, there are some attendees who want to be first in line for the gates on Sunday. They are positioned near the Lapu-Lapu Monument but they will be asked to leave on Saturday night,” Layon said.
Philippine National Police officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina appealed for the public’s understanding, saying the security checks at Luneta were not being imposed to inconvenience them but for everyone’s safety and welfare.
Prohibited items
“We ask them to travel light so that the security checks will be easier. We want the public to enter the venue with peace of mind that they will be free from harm,” he added.
He reminded people not to bring prohibited items such as bladed or deadly weapons, alcoholic beverages and firearms to Luneta and University of Santo Tomas, which will be considered places of worship during Pope Francis’ public engagements there.
People should bring water and food so they won’t have to go out of the venue when they are hungry, Espina said.
So far, so good
Director Ricardo Marquez, the head of the PNP directorate for operations, said the NCRPO had been directed to deploy additional personnel so the security checks could be done in shifts.
“We need to conduct the security checks in rotation so that the checking will be more efficient,” he said.
Espina gave assurance that the 28,000 policemen deployed for the papal visit will perform their duties to the best of their ability despite the inclement weather.
He expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the security arrangements so far on the third day of the papal visit.
“As I see it, all best efforts are being exerted and so far, everything is good. We conduct critiques after every activity so that improvements and corrections can be done immediately. All of our people are doing a good job,” Espina said.
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