Overseas Filipinos told to be vigilant amid terror attacks

The DFA added it monitored other small-scale attacks that took place in other parts of the world, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, during the past few days. (PNA photo)

MANILA— The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday urged overseas Filipinos to be vigilant amid terror attacks in Russia and Burkina Faso, Africa.

“We want our kababayans wherever they are abroad to always remain vigilant and to always be prepared because these senseless acts of violence can happen anywhere and when we least expect them,” said DFA Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano in a statement.

In Ouagadougou, 18 people were killed when Islamic militants opened fire at a restaurant frequented by foreigners.

Cayetano conveyed his sympathies to the families of the victims of the August 13 attack in Burkina Faso.

“We mourn with the families of those who lost their lives in this terrible incident in Burkina Faso,” he said.

Citing a report from Ambassador Carlos Sorreta of the Philippine Embassy in Moscow, the DFA said Russian intelligence was able to prevent Islamic militants from carrying out terrorist attacks in the country. The terrorist plot reportedly included two suicide attacks.

The DFA added it monitored other small-scale attacks that took place in other parts of the world, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, during the past few days.

Citing data from the Global Terrorism Database, it said around 1,102 terror incidents took place worldwide from January to August 2017, while 1,204 terror attacks were perpetrated during the same period in 2016.