MANILA - Policemen who will secure the areas where Pope Francis will pass by won’t be wearing adult diapers, the Philippine National Police said Monday.

PNP spokesman Gen. Wilben Mayor said there is nothing in the agency’s standard policies directing policemen to wear adult diapers even in situations or events where they need to be on their jobs full time.

He said the issue was never discussed in previous meetings for Pope Francis’ visit.

The use of adult diapers became a subject of ridicule when the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) asked its traffic enforcers to wear them during the Black Nazarene feast.

MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations Emerson Carlos defended the directive, saying adult diapers have been used in major historical events.

"These diapers are actually being used regularly as standard operating gear for soldiers belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United States Army to fight Talibans in Afghanistan since 2012. Even the Buckingham Palace guards," Carlos said.

He said the Beijing police also used adult diapers during the 2008 politics to ensure continuous order.

He said astronauts at the US National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) wore diapers during space shuttle launches.

The use of the adult diapers was ordered so that the MMDA employees won’t have to leave their posts during the Traslacion.

Mayor said, however, that it will be up to the individuals if they would be more comfortable in using adult diapers. – from a report by Zhander Cayabyab, dzMM

