Pinoys abroad urged to be vigilant in wake of foiled NY attack

FILE: DFA 
(PNA photo)

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday called on Filipinos abroad to exercise “higher level of vigilance” in the wake of another attempted terror attack in the United States.

The DFA issued the advisory after a morning rush hour explosion at a major transportation hub in New York that left at least four persons injured on Monday.

As per the agency, no Filipino was reported among the wounded.

In its initial report to Manila, the Philippine Consulate General in New York said the incident involved the premature detonation of a pipe bomb at the Port Authority Terminal, which is the main transport hub for buses going in and out of New York.

Consul General Maria Teresa Dizon De Vega said a suspect, who was also injured in the incident and was also reported to have been in possession of a second explosive device, is now in police custody.

The consulate, immediately after the attack, issued an advisory requesting the 56,100 members of the Filipino community to avoid the area and to observe usual precautions while the investigation is ongoing.

Dizon-De Vega said she was relieved no Filipino was among the injured since the Port Authority Terminal is used by Filipinos from New Jersey and other nearby areas.

These include personnel of the consulate and the Philippine Mission to the United Nations who take their connecting subway rides to their offices.

The latest attack came more than five weeks after eight persons were killed and 11 others were injured in Manhattan after they were ran over by a truck driven by a follower of the Islamic State.

It also followed warnings issued by the terrorist group that it would undertake more attacks worldwide.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippine government joins the international community in condemning the attack.

“Terrorism and hate have no place in the society. We pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he said in a press briefing.

For his part, DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano reminded Filipinos traveling abroad for work, business or even pleasure to secure the contact details of Philippine embassies and consulates in countries they would be going in case of emergency.

“It is important for our kababayans (nationals) wherever they are abroad to know how to respond in the event of a terror incident,” he said. (PNA)