No Filipino casualty in Egypt terror attack: DFA

FILE: Leslie Baja (Screenshot from nterview with Amb. Leslie J. Baja Video by RTV Malacanang)

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday reported that no Filipino was hurt in the deadly terrorist attack in Northern Sinai, Egypt that killed at least 235 and wounded 109 others.

Following the incident, DFA cautioned the 5,183 registered Filipinos from going to the Northern Sinai region due to “high risk of terrorist attacks”.

The Philippine Embassy in Cairo said it is monitoring the developments of the attack.

Initial reports from the agency indicated that there was no Filipino casualty.

According to Ambassador Leslie Baja, the attack took place at the Al-Rawdah mosque in Bir Al-Abed province, about 300 km. northeast of Cairo.

Baja said the attack involved at least one suicide bomber and several gunmen who targeted Sufi Muslim worshipers attending Friday afternoon prayers.

Meanwhile, DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, on behalf of the Philippine government, “strongly” condemned the terrorist attack, describing it as a “cowardly act” perpetrated against Muslims in Egypt.

“We join the people and government of Egypt and the rest of the world in mourning the loss of many innocent lives in the tragedy,” Cayetano said in a statement.

“Attacks on any place of worship are totally unacceptable,” he added as he echoed President Rodrigo Duterte’s “desire” to promote interfaith harmony as one course of action that the international community can take to counter violent extremism.

He said that the incident in the Northern Sinai “must reinforce the resolve not only of the various governments but also of the major faiths around the world” to work jointly in eradicating terrorism.