Phil. Army on standby for Papal visit

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 14): Phil. Army on standby for Papal visit

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija -- Some 500 soldiers comprising a full battalion have been put on standby by military authorities inside this sprawling reservation to serve as emergency augmentation for troopers providing security to visiting Pope Francis.

Maj. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, 7th ID commander, said the battalion-size augmentation troop can be dispatched anytime even as the whole reservation has been out on “red alert” for the five-day Papal visit starting today.

“We have a full contingent of one battalion ready to move anytime when the need arises,” Miranda said,

Miranda also said that the entire 6,000-strong soldier population inside the reservation have been under strict orders not to go out unless they have a special mission.

He said all leaves have been suspended to ensure that there is a maximum number of troops on duty.

Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. said that the red alert status was raised in all military camps to ensure that “no enemy of the state” can take advantage of the country’s preparations for the papal visit.

Army Capt. Mark Anthony Ruelos, chief of the 7th ID’s public affairs office, said that Miranda has instructed subordinate officials on constant accounting of troops to make sure they are all present unless they are on official mission.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=725132