THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS THE SENSELESS TERRORIST ATTACKS  AND THE REPORTEDLY CONSIDERABLE LOSS OF LIFE THAT TOOK PLACE IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND IN NEW YORK CITY SEVERAL HOURS AGO.  WE HOPE THAT THE PERPETRATORS OF THIS INHUMAN ACT ARE SWIFTLY BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

 THE FILIPINO PEOPLE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED – ESPECIALLY BY THE EXTENT OF DEATHS AND INJURIES THAT ARE STILL BEING ASSESSED.

ALTHOUGH OUR CONSULATE PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK ARE CHECKING VARIOUS HOSPITALS IN THEIR AREAS, AS OF NOW, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CONFIRMED INFORMATION OF FILIPINO CASULTIES.

OUR EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND OUR CONSULATES GENERAL ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES – ESPECIALLY THAT IN NEW YORK – CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION.  WHILE THEY REMAIN IN A HEIGHTENED STATE OF ALERT, THEY REMAIN ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES WILL CONTINUE AS THEIR RESPECTIVE SITUATIONS PERMIT.

BOTH EMBASSY AND CONSULATE ARE ON 24-HOUR DUTY – MONITORING THE SITUATION, COORDINATING WITH AMERICAN AUTHORITIES AND AWAITING REPORTS ON POSSIBLE FILIPINO CASUALTIES.  HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, I HAVE ALSO ACTIVATED A SIMILAR 24-HOUR MONITORING UNIT THAT WILL RESPOND TO QUERIES FROM THE PUBLIC.