Manila: Security forces in the Philippines are exerting the necessary efforts to ensure the safety of Pope Francis when he visits the country in January.

“The whole government is making preparations to ensure security for the coming visit of Pope Francis in January 2015. Our armed forces and national police are prepared to face any threat to the country’s security,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Philippines on January 15-19. The 77-year-old pontiff will arrive in Manila from Sri Lanka on January 15 and will make a few public appearances. These will be on his arrival in Manila, on January 17 in Palo, Leyte and while celebrating mass at the Quirino Grandstand in the Philippine capital.

When asked if the military has verified the existence of a supposed 15-man team of jihadists planning to mount attacks in Luzon, Coloma said: “In the meantime, we have no verification on this.”

Coloma was also responding to questions over whether the Philippines can ensure the safety of the Pope, in light of reports that Daesh is also gaining adherents and influence in the Philippines and purportedly deployed a cell to Luzon.

“What we are saying is this: Our security forces are at all times mandated to ensure the safety of the country and are taking steps to ensure the safety of the people such as conducting surveillance, monitoring, exchanging information with their counterparts in our neighbouring countries,” Coloma said.

Coloma also said that in expressing its commitment for the safety of the Pope and the people, the government is living by its pledge to the United Nations Security Council condemning “violent extremism”.

“As a member of the UN Security Council, we abide by the resolution that mandates coordinated action of UN member states to fight violent extremism, this had been mentioned by President Benigno Aquino on several occasions,” Coloma said.

Issued on September 24, UNSC Resolution 2178 (2014) expressed “particular concern that foreign terrorist fighters are being recruited by and are joining entities such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Daesh), the Al Nusrah Front (ANF) and other cells, affiliates, splinter groups or derivatives of Al Qaida.”

Several groups in the Philippines had openly pledged allegiance to Daesh. These include the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Freedom Fighters (BIFF). None of these, however, are known to operate large numbers of operatives in Luzon, more so in Palo, Leyte which is in predominantly Catholic Visayas.

The Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF operate in Western Mindanao and Central Mindanao areas respectively.