Palace Extends Sympathies to Countries Affected by Terrorist Attacks Friday

Malacanang extended its sympathies to friendly countries devastated by terrorist attacks on Friday adding that the Department of Foreign Affairs has already instructed its embassies in those locations to determine if there are Filipinos affected.

“Nakikiramay po tayo doon sa mga kaibigan po natin, doon sa ating mga kaibigang bansa na nawalan po ng kanilang mga mamamayan dahil po diyan sa mga pag-atakeng ‘yan,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview on Saturday.

“Kagabi po ay nag-overtime ang Department of Foreign Affairs. Inutusan na nila ‘yung ating mga embahada na mayroon hong jurisdiction doon sa mga lugar na ‘yon na siguraduhin kung mayroon nga ho bang Pilipinong nasangkot,” she told dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan.

But based on the information at this time, Valte said there is still no report of Filipinos being affected by the attack in Tunisia and France.

In Kuwait, Philippine authorities are still checking if there are Filipino casualties in terrorist attacks there.

The ISIS group claimed responsibility for the attack on a seaside resort hotel in Tunisia on Friday that killed at least 38 people and wounded at least 36 others, many of them Western tourists.

CNN reported that among the dead were at least five Britons, three Belgians, one German, and one woman from Ireland, citing reports from the foreign ministries of Britain, Ireland and Tunisia.

An unknown number of French nationals were also among the dead, according to the report.

In France, a man caused an explosion at a chemical plant after beheading his boss and leaving the head hanging on a fence.

ISIS also claimed responsibility for an apparent bomb blast at a Shiite-affiliated mosque in Kuwait during Friday’s prayers. The attack left at least 25 people dead and more than 200 injured. PND (as)