I offer my sympathy to those who lost loved ones and those who were hurt in this new attack in Bali, Indonesia.  I strongly condemn this senseless act of violence that has taken the lives of 26 innocent people, including Indonesians, Australians, Japanese, South Koreans, Americans.

To the peace-loving people of Bali, I offer you my encouragement. Just this August, you welcomed people of different faiths to your shores to engage in a harmonious interfaith dialogue. May your resilience enable your beautiful island to reclaim its tranquility, and continue to be a place where different cultures meet and coexist.

To the Government and People of Indonesia, the Government and People of the Philippines offer their solidarity in fighting terrorism. Indeed, when Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited the Philippines this June, he and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo agreed on how the security of our two countries are interrelated. They emphasized the importance of strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation through exchanges of information, and enhanced coordination and cooperation between our police and intelligence officials, in order to achieve our common security.

I also commend the international community for coming together, once again, amid this tragedy. I am confident that we can defeat terrorism if we sustain our unity of purpose and action.
 
Our Embassy in Jakarta has informed me that there was no Filipino who died or was injured in this latest terrorist bombing in Bali.   As the Embassy and the Department exert every effort to keep out of harms way every Filipino in foreign lands, I enjoin all Filipinos here and abroad to exercise caution and observe the security laws of the host country.   We must assist our authorities by staying alert and be on guard  - for the price of lasting peace, genuine freedom, and the respect for human values and rights is external vigilance. END