Security drill for Pope visit snarls Metro Manila traffic

Manila: Metro Manila suffered heavy traffic jam during a dry-run that involved almost 60,000 strong policemen and civilians who were assigned to form a human barricade for Pope Francis during his four-day visit in the Philippines starting January 15, sources said.

“I hope and pray that the visit of Pope Francis will be a success,” said former president Joseph Estrada, now mayor of Manila.

“We are 100 per cent ready, but we want to evaluate, improve on, and fine-tune the security preparation for the papal visit,” Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor told Gulf News.

Roads near Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila’s suburban Pasay City were closed at 5.45pm on Monday evening, where a simulation of the landing of the pope’s plane at Pasay City’s Villamor Air Base on January 15 took place.

A mock run was also done on the movement of security forces on all the roads where the pope’s motorcade would go, such as the Domestic Airport Road, Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue, and Manila district’s Taft Avenue, which would lead to the pope’s residence, at the Apostolic Nunciature, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) head Francis Tolentino told Gulf News.

“The snarled traffic in Manila district affected other parts of Metro Manila the whole of Monday,” complained student George de la Cruz, adding, “for this to happen three days ahead of the major religious event which is expected to attract almost 10 million, tells us what to expect on January 15.”

A holiday was declared for the pope’s visit.

Moreover, the arrival of police contingents from other parts of the Philippines which started building up a 37,000 strong police force to guard Pope Francis, added to the traffic jam on Monday. “The mobilisation of police personnel from other regions starting on Monday will continue up to Wednesday to augment the police force of the National Capital Region where Pope Francis will stay most of the time,” said police spokesman Mayor, adding the entire 150,000 police force nationwide was also on full alert starting Monday.

“Police officers from Ilocos in northern Luzon were already brought to Rizal Memorial Stadium at the central Luneta Park last Sunday, even the open air mass of Pope Francis will be held there on January 18,” Mayor explained.

Policemen inspected all the venues where Pope Francis was scheduled to go to, such as the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the Mall of Asia in suburban Pasay City where he would meet selected groups of poor families, the Manila Cathedral where he would hold his first mass for Catholic religious leaders, and Malacanang, the presidential palace where Pope Francis and President Benigno Aquino would meet.

Meanwhile, lecturers told 21,000 civilian volunteers about the importance of self-restraint to prevent them from joining people who get excited on seeing Pope Francis, said Manila city administrator Ericson “Jojo” Alcovendaz

The civilian volunteers, including 11,000 from Manila’s village units, 5,000 from Catholic churches in Manila, and 5,000 students from the Papal University of Santo Tomas (UST), were given their respective uniforms, identification cards, and assignment on Monday, said Alcovendaz.

They were also taught how to position themselves near the pope’s open vehicle during the motorcade in Manila, said Alcovendaz.

The 60,000-strong human barricade does not yet include the number of Vatican’s Swiss Guards and part of the Presidential Security Group (assigned to President Aquino) that have been commissioned for the pope’s security.

Earlier, closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were mounted at the roads and venues where Pope Francis would visit and pass by; fire trucks, ambulances, and their respective personnel were deployed with instruction to stay put at their assigned areas three days ahead of the arrival of the pope.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PSG) banned private boats, sea crafts and yachts at the Manila Bay also on Monday until the next Monday, said Commander Armand Balilo, PSG spokesman.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) identified vast no fly zones from Pasay City to Manila district and near Quezon City starting a day before the pope’s arrival.

After a hectic day in Manila on January 16, Pope Francis is scheduled to fly to Leyte central Philippines on January 17, and would return to Manila on the same day. He has another heavy schedule in Manila on January 18 and would fly back to Rome the next day.