Lifted from http://www.cbcpnews.com/papalvisit/?p=1321

PALO, Leyte, Jan. 6, 2015 — All for one, one for all. This motto shared by the musketeers seems to also apply to papal safety during the Holy Father’s trip to the Philippines with the head of security on the Church side calling on everyone’s cooperation to make it happen.

“We should put in mind that the safety and security of the Pope and the pilgrims is not just a concern of the military, the police and the security committee, but it is the concern and responsibility of everyone,” said Msgr. Alex Opiniano, head of the security committee on the side of the church.

He emphasized that restrictions like the prohibition of certain items inside the papal venues are not intended to discourage the faithful from attending the papal Mass, rather to make things easier and to guarantee everyone’s safety and security.

Opiniano further stressed the safety and security of the Holy Father and all the pilgrims “depend on each of us.”

“We must understand that the Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, he is our Pope and he is the Vicar of Christ,” he said, adding, “For everyone at the areas of engagement, the very first thing that we should always remember somehow he is a security volunteer, a security officer ensuring that nothing should happen to (the Pope) as well as his fellow pilgrim.”

He added that the committee can guarantee the safety of the Holy Father, if everybody will cooperate and do his part.

PC/Supt. Asher Dolina, regional director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas and head of the security and public order committee on the government side, announced that part of the security preparations is the background checks being conducted on all who registered to attend the papal Mass — regular participants and even the thirty survivors who will get the chance to dine with Pope Francis.

There will also be rerouting which will be rehearsed on Jan. 11 and will be implemented one hour after the last flight at the DZR Airport on Jan. 16.

As of now, the security committee on the government side is conducting a target hardening forum in relation to all necessary contingencies, as well as an advocacy talk on volunteerism among the laity to help in the security preparations, particularly in ensuring that no stampede will happen during the papal motorcade.

Both leaders of the security committee appealed for help from the media, recognizing the vital role it plays in encouraging more pilgrims to attend the papal Mass.

They also appealed to the pilgrims to observe the restrictions for everybody’s safety, as well. (Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros/CBCPNews)