• Palace reiterates call to the public to cooperate with authorities during the Papal visit
• Palace condemns terror attacks in Paris

“Hindi kakayanin ng gobyerno mag-isa. Nakikipag-ugnayan kami sa simbahan at sa iba’t ibang mga grupo sa pribadong sektor. Kapag pinagtulungan natin, maaabot natin ang inaasam-asam natin na isang mapayapa at talagang makabuluhang pagbisita ng ating Santo Papa,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., quoting President Benigno Aquino III.

Coloma added that the government is not taking any chances and has thought of all the possible scenarios.

“Sa malalaking pagtitipon, malaki rin ang tyansa na kahit na maliit na komosyon ay maaaring humantong sa malaking kaguluhan o stampede,” said Coloma in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

He urged all those who wish to participate in the activities in Luneta and Tacloban City to follow the instructions of marshals, ushers, enforcers and police authorities.

“Tulad po ng ginagawa nating pag-iingat kapag pumupunta tayo sa mga sinehan o auditorium, pansinin natin ang mga itinakdang nearest exits. Ito po ang tinutukoy ni Pangulong Aquino. Hanapin po natin ang mga puwang, mga corridor o exit points sa Luneta at Tacloban Airport kung saan magdiriwang ng misa ang Mahal na Santo Papa,” said Coloma.

He added that the Palace has done a walk-through this Sunday at the Malacanang Palace grounds.

“Ang nasabing walk-through ay dinaluhan ng mga miyembro ng Gabinete at ilan pang opisyal ng pamahalaan at ito ay isinakatuparan upang masiguro ang maayos, organisado, at mahusay na daloy ng mga itinakdang kaganapan sa loob ng Palasyo na bahagi ng general audience of senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps,” said Coloma.

While on Monday, the Metro Manila Development Authority is scheduled to have a dry-run of how the Pontiff will travel from the Villamor Airport to his different destinations.

Coloma also assured the public that the visit of Pope Francis to the country will only cost as much as other previous state visits of head of states. PND (ag)

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. also extended the Palace’s sympathies to the families of the victims of the terror attacks.

“Unang-una, nakikiisa tayo sa pamahalaan ng France at sa buong mundo sa pagkondena sa pagpaslang ng mga mamamahayag, pulis, at pagdamay ng mga inosenteng sibilyan sa mga naganap na terror attacks at hostage-taking sa Paris nitong mga nakaraang araw,” Secretary Coloma said.

“Maigting ang ating paniniwala at paninindigan sa kahalagahan ng pagtataguyod ng kalayaan sa pamamahayag at ang pangangalaga sa kaligtasan ng lahat ng manggagawa sa industriya ng pangmadlang komunikasyon sa alinmang panig ng daigdig,” he added.

Coloma assured the public that the government’s intelligence community, the military and the police are focused on ensuring security in the country, especially in the lead-up to Pope Francis’ visit next week.

Two separate terror attacks rocked Paris from January 7 to January 9.

On January 7, two gunmen entered the office of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and opened fire at an editorial meeting, killing 12 people, including the magazine’s editor and two police officers.

Meanwhile, a lone gunman shot dead a policewoman on January 8 and took several people hostage at a supermarket the following day. Police stormed the supermarket on January 9, killed the gunman and rescued 15 hostages. Four hostages were however killed.

Also on January 9, police cornered the two suspects, who were brothers, in the attack on Charlie Hebdo and shot them dead. PND (ag)