DFA: 4 Irish citizens of Filipino descent among injured
The Philippine government on Friday, August 18 condemned the terrorist attack in Barcelona, Spain that left at least 13 people dead and dozens injured.
“The Philippines condemns in the strongest terms this disturbing act of terror perpetrated by extremists against innocent men, women and children in Barcelona,” Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.
On Thursday, August 17, a vehicle rammed through pedestrians in Barcelona’s Las Ramblas tourist district in broad daylight, drawing condemnation from across the globe.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Catalonia and all of Spain and the rest of the world as we fight this common scourge,” Cayetano added.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said among the injured were four members of a Filipino-Irish family.
The names of the Filipino victims were withheld, but Philippine Honorary Consul Jordi Puig Roches reported that the mother and her daughter have been released from the hospital, while the father and son are still under observation.
The deadly Barcelona attack was the latest in a series of Islamic State (IS)-claimed incidents in Europe, wherein a vehicle has been used to plow pedestrians. Similar attacks occurred in Berlin, London, and Nice, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.
The DFA recently called on Filipinos outside the country to remain vigilant, following a series of terror attacks abroad.
“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,” Cayetano said.
The department likewise ordered all Philippine embassies abroad and consulates general to update their contingency plans to secure the safety of Filipinos.
“Our people all over the world are counting on us to lead them to safety in case worse comes to worst,” the foreign secretary added. “It is thus important to make sure that all our contingency plans are regularly reviewed and updated.”
