Pope Francis visit Philippines’ ‘biggest security nightmare’

The incompetent handling of the 2010 Manila Hostage Crisis, in which eight Chinese tourists and a tour guide were shot dead after a 10-hour stand-off, revealed just how ill-prepared, badly-trained and poorly equipped Philippines’ police and military were in protecting its citizens and foreign visitors.

Four years on, one hopes matters have improved.

The proof of the pudding comes next week when Pope Francis makes a state and pastoral visit to the Philippines, the third largest Catholic country in the world after Brazil and Mexico.

It’s little wonder then that Gregorio Catapang Jr., chief of staff general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is a tad nervous at the moment.

As he finalizes plans to make sure that the leader of the Catholic church will be safe while in the country, he called the visit “the biggest security nightmare”.

Catapang said the AFP had been conducting “war-gaming” to test all possible scenarios that could play out during the papal visit from January 15 to 19.

Aside from securing the routes that Pope Francis will be taking from the ground, the AFP will also be giving aerial security to make sure that the he is also protected from above.

The standing proposal of the AFP is to make all papal venues no-fly zones during the visit.

“This will be the biggest security nightmare that we can have,” Catapang said.

Some 6,000 to 7,000 soldiers and 5,000 reservists will be deployed to ensure the Pope’s safety.

Catapang said one of the scenarios they are preparing for is a possible attack by people claiming to be in support of the Islamic State. But he added there was no direct threat as of the moment.

Wilben Mayor, a chief superintendent and the Philippine national police spokesman, said securing the Pope during his visit is expected to be much more difficult than protecting United States President Barack Obama, who visited Manila last year.