Swedish king's visit to Tacloban secured - Army official

MANILA, Philippines - The Samar-based 8th Infrantry Division of the Philippine Army is confident that the historic visit of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden to the Philippines to check on typhoon-ravaged Tacloban City on Sunday will be well secured.

"We are still to detect any security threat for the visit of King Carl XVI," Capt. Amado Gutierrez, the unit's spokesman, said.

Gutierrez said that team is still in the process of beefing up security measures to prevent adverse incidents from occurring during the visit.

He added that security contingents will be deployed to the areas included in the king's itinerary including the Leyte National High School, San Fernando Central School in Tacloban City and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines building in the province.

Carl XVI will also attend a luncheon reception at the Leyte Park Hotel.

The king is staying in the country from January 24 to 26 as a guest of honor at the Invitational Peace Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, which celebrates its centenary year.

"His Majesty’s commitment to the Boy Scout movement has been lifelong. From being a scout himself as a young man," the Deparment of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late Thursday.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, who is the country’s Chief Scout by virtue of Republic Act 7278. Vice President Jejomar Binay, concurrently the National President of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, will fête the King of Sweden for dinner together with other Scout officials and dignitaries during his visit.

King Carl XVI Gustaf is one of the longest serving monarchs in Europe, reigning for at least four decades.