President Aquino Appeals for ‘Bayanihan’, Ensure People’s Safety during Papal Visit

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday evening made a televised appeal to the public to work together to ensure everyone’s safety during the upcoming pastoral visit of Pope Francis.

“Kailangan natin ng pagdadamayan at pagbabayanihan. Malinaw na napakalaki ng hamong dala ng pagbisitang ito ni Pope Francis sa ating bansa. Nakataya rito ang kaligtasan niya, ng napakaraming dadalo sa kanyang mga gawain at mag-aabang sa kanya,” President Aquino said.

Showing video clips of past attacks on Popes, such as when Pope John Paul II was attacked inside the Vatican, the President noted that even without a terrorist threat, danger looms in large gatherings of people.

As millions of Filipinos are expected to attend the Mass to be celebrated by the Pontiff in Luneta on Sunday, President Aquino said he fears that the mere eagerness of the people to catch a glimpse of the Pope could start a commotion that could turn into chaos.

“Obligasyon ng gobyerno ang inyong kaligtasan, at para magampanan ang tungkuling ito ay may obligasyon din kayo,” he said, adding that in the next few days, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas and Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista will issue bulletins regarding security preparations during the Papal visit.

“Ang panawagan po namin: Makinig po tayo, at makiisa sa pagbabahagi ng impormasyon. Ipakita po natin ang pakikisama at pagtutulungan, nang matiyak nating magiging mataimtim at mapayapa ang pagbisita ni Pope Francis sa ating bansa,” he said. PND (ag)