PNoy says papal security needs more improvement - Roxas

From InterAksyon (Jan 7): PNoy says papal security needs more improvement - Roxas

President Benigno Aquino III has critiqued the security plan for the papal visit and noted it still needs improvement with little more than a week to go before Pope Francis arrives in the country, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said Wednesday.

Roxas, in an interview following his traditional New Year’s call at Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, said the security plan was presented at a lengthy meeting between Aquino and various government agencies Tuesday.

This included a joint presentation by the National Security Agency, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the intelligence units of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Yesterday we had a four-hour session led by the President,” Roxas said, without disclosing details. “He went over the proposed security plans for each part of the Pope’s visit and critiqued them."

"We still have to iron out and fortify a few things,” Roxas acknowledged, adding that the PNP and other concerned agencies would continue to polish the security measures for the Pope and the people expected to flock to him during his January 15-19 visit.

“We are doing everything to make sure the Pope is safe. Also, the security of the people is equally important,” Roxas said.

In a separate interview, acting PNP chief, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, said they have not monitored any specific threats against the Pope.

“There is none. He’s well-loved by everybody,” Espina told reporters.

However, he added they would not be complacent.

“Even if there are no threats of course we always have to assume the presence of threats so we could prepare,” Espina said.

The PNP will deploy 25,000 personnel for the papal visit.

The AFP, on the other hand, will field 7,000 troops and 5,000 reservists.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/102538/pnoy-says-papal-security-needs-more-improvement---roxas