Tacloban prepares security for pope

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines —The entire police force of this city will be augmented by hundred more to secure the visit of Pope Francis here next year.

City Police Director, Senior Superintendent Domingo Cabillan, told The Freeman that at least 2,000 policemen coming from the Police Regional Office-8 will be deployed around the city and nearby Palo and other towns.

“Our troops in Tacloban will specifically secure the Tacloban airport, where Pope Francis will celebrate the Papal Mass, and his route going to Palo. We have been preparing for the security of the pope,” Cabillan said.

Meanwhile, Archbishop John Du of the Archdiocese of Palo said that Pope Francis told a Taclobanon during a mass at the Vatican City recently: “I am going to Tacloban City next year.”

Du said he was happy that Pope Francis knows where Tacloban City is because it belongs to the Archdiocese of Palo, which is now also busy with its preparations for the papal visit.

Church and government officials said they are expecting at least two million devotees and pilgrims to attend the Papal Mass at the Tacloban airport. —Miriam Garcia Desacada (FREEMAN)