CEBU – A special task force was organized by the Philippines ahead of the historic by Pope Francis on January 15-19 in Manila and Tacloban City in the Visayas to ensure security and public order.
Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said the task force shall implement the smooth operations of immigration services and intelligence operations during the Papal visit.
He said the task force is specifically created to ensure that the Pope and members of his entourage receive proper immigration service, technical and intelligence support.
“We have started our general preparation phase as early as October. Our preparations include planning the event, service training for task unit personnel, and survey inspection areas of engagement,” Mison said.
“We must remain vigilant since we are expecting an influx of foreign visitors in the Philippines in January due to the papal visit. The Bureau of Immigration is in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies in intelligence building and has heightened its alert on foreign nationals with emphasis on potential threats to the scheduled arrival of the Pope,” he added.
Mison said there is enough immigration personnel deployed in Manila and Tacloban for the event. Pope Francis will meet with victims of Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban and Palo in Leyte province.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama previously said he will write the Vatican to appeal for the inclusion of his city in the itinerary of Pope Francis.
Rama also appealed to the media, especially the Internet bloggers, and even the provincial government to appeal to the Pope to include Cebu – which is hosting next year’s International Eucharistic Congress – in the historic visit.
He said Cebuanos were also victims of twin calamities – the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and the Super Typhoon Haiyan – thus “we also be deserving of such visit.”
The Papal itinerary also does not include Bohol which was also devastated by calamities. The Pope’s visit was already announced by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. (Cebu Examiner)
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