Jobless man accosted ahead of pope's Palace visit

MANILA, Philippines — Amid fears of possible threats on the life of Pope Francis, a jobless man was accosted Friday morning by the Presidential Security Group and the police less than an hour before the Pontiff departed for his visit to Malacañang Palace.

Michael Sayas Banguardia, 26, said he merely wanted to see the Pope in person.  "Tinanong lang nila ako, at pinacheck yung backpack ko," he said in an interview.

Banguardia was asked by a cop and a PSG man to go down from the back of a parked white pick-up van at the corner of Quirino Boulevard and Leon Guinto Street.

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Several well-wishers converged at the area anew before the 76-year old Pontiff went to see President Aquino at the Palace. Incidentally, Banguardia was the spotted by law enforcers among with some kibitzers in the area.

He was pinpointed and approached by authorities, interrogated but not arrested nor brought to the police headquarters.  After questioning, Banguardia was left on his own by authorities.

Like many others, he seemed happy after spotting the Pope from his car and was not discouraged by the police inspection he underwent earlier.