MPD assures security for hostage crisis Mass

One week after being tagged as goats in last week’s bloody hostage crisis, the Manila police will secure the site of a Mass to be held Tuesday for victims of last week’s incident. Radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported that MPD officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavlla assured “sufficient" personnel will be on hand to watch the Quirino Grandstand Tuesday. While Rongavilla did not say how many personnel will be assigned to the site, he said they have taken the needed measures to secure the bishops, priests and participants. Manila police are still reeling from last week’s hostage crisis, where eight Hong Kong tourists and a dismissed police captain were killed. The incident prompted MPD head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay to go on leave, with the Philippine National Police naming two officers-in-charge for the MPD in two days. The PNP at first named Senior Superintendent Francisco Villaroman to replace Magtibay, but eventually replaced him with Rongavilla a day later. On Tuesday, government officials and Metro Manila residents will offer a Mass for victims of last Monday’s bloody hostage crisis, to mark the ninth day after the incident. It will be held at the Quirino Grandstand, the site of the tragedy, at 8 a.m. Tuesday. According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Filipino and Chinese priests will lead the mass. The CBCP said Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo will be the main celebrant of the mass with Bishops Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. (Caloocan) and Honesto Ongtioco (Cubao) as concelebrants. Also expected to grace the liturgical gathering is Father Thaddeus Shang, a Catholic priest from mainland China, and other Chinese government officials. — RSJ, GMANews.TV