Risk expert says Espina spread too thinly; may affect Pope visit

Pope Francis greets the pilgrims during his weekly general audience in St Peter’s square at the Vatican on December 04, 2013. Giulio Napolitano / Shutterstock

MANILA – A risk management consultant has said that the recent appointment of Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina as the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) may have adverse effects on security preparations for the upcoming Papal Visit from January15-19, 2015.

Ace Esmeralda, risk management pro, cautioned that Espina’s appointment as OIC of the police force may work against measures being undertaken to ensure maximum security for Pope Francis’ visit to Manila, because Espina already has his hands full as head of the special task group for the Pope’s trip.

“Just one month before (the Pope’s visit), you suspend the head of the PNP. And then the one in charge of the special task group is the one you promote as the OIC. So [at] first, he was just focused on one special visit, then now he’s the head of the entire PNP nationwide. We’re looking for the focus,” Esmeralda said, referencing the 6-month preventive suspension of PNP Chief Alan Purisima on allegations of corruption.

“I think it’s a very difficult situation now. You want General Espina to have continuity because he already started (work) with the Task Force. May glitches sa system but it can be fixed,” the risk analyst added.