Airbase, airport prepared for possible papal flight diversion

CEBU, Philippines - Security precautions were still in place yesterday at the Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Airbase and Mactan-Cebu International Airport as part of preparations in case the papal flight would have been diverted.

Engineer Nigel Paul Villarete, MCIA general manager, told The FREEMAN that the Department of Transportation and Communication instructed the airport management to prepare for possible flight diversion.

Aside from the given guidelines from DOTC, the airport manager said that Cebu is the alternate airport for the Manila-Tacloban flight of the Pope and so as any other given flights.

"All flights usually have alternate airports listed when they file their flight plans," Villarete said.

"Since last night (Friday), all contingency, safety and security measures have been in place already," he said.

However, Villarete clarified that there was never a plan of the Pope dropping by Cebu in the first place since it was not part of the outlined travel book of the holy pontiff's organizers.

"I'm sure of that (he will never be stopping over) because the airport was not advised," Villarete said.

As of yesterday, Villarete informed said the security forces have lowered their alert level since the Philippine Air Lines Flight A320 aircraft, where the Pope was onboard had finally, reached Manila from Tacloban City.

Pope Francis, who is sometimes called "the Pope of many surprises," is said to make instant decisions way out of his original itinerary, helping fuel desires from faithful Cebuanos of the Pope's possible landing here. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)