For Pope visit, PHL draws lessons from deadly 'Wowowee' stampede

MANILA, Philippines -MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III and security officials on Thursday met with leaders of the Catholic Church for the visit of Pope Francis next week, Malacañang said.

In a televised press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the security preparations for the papal visit were discussed during the meeting attended by Cabinet members and law enforcement officials.

Coloma said all of the pontiff's activities in his five-day visit, including those in Metro Manila and Tacloban City, were tackled during the meeting.

As part of the security and crowd management preparations, Coloma said the government has reviewed past events that had a huge number of attendees such as the yearly Black Nazarene procession and the "Wowowee" stampede in the PhilSports Stadium or Ultra that killed about 400 people in 2006.

"Tinalakay na lahat 'yung mga important concerns that need to be considered whenever there is a big crowd. At dahil mayroon naman tayong kongkretong karanasan na papal visit 20 years ago, 'yung annual na Black Nazarene procession, 'yung naging unfortunate na kaganapan sa Ultra," Coloma said.

"'Yung mga ganoong kahalintulad na karanasan, nagkaroon naman ng appreciation doon sa mga panganib na dapat laktawan," he added.

Among the Church leaders who met with Aquino were Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

The Church and government leaders stressed during the meeting the importance of the public's cooperation in ensuring the safety of the pope, Coloma said.

"Nagkakaisa ang pamahalaan at ang Simbahan sa panawagan sa mga mamamayan hinggil sa kanilang pakikiisa sa lahat ng mga ipaiiral na patakaran na naglalayong tiyakin ang maayos na daloy ng lahat ng kaganapan at ang kaligtasan ng lahat ng lalahok," he said.

Pope Francis will arrive in Manila in the afternoon of January 15 and will be welcomed by Aquino and government officials.

He will start his official activities the following day with a courtesy visit to Aquino at the Palace and a meeting with officials and members of the diplomatic corp.

Coloma said last week that Aquino and Pope Francis may not discuss political concerns although they may talk about state matters and issues "close to their hearts."