11 July 2005 – Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James Edgardo B. Espiritu reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippine Embassy in London continues to closely coordinate with British authorities, hospitals and the Filipino community to ascertain the safety of Filipinos in the British capital in the wake of the London subway attacks on the morning of 07 July 2005.

Ambassador Espiritu reported that the Embassy is coordinating with the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Central Casualty Bureau.  The Embassy learned that the Bureau has no record yet of any Filipino fatalities/casualties in the bomb blasts.  The Embassy is likewise communicating with the Police, hospitals in London and other officials in charge of the situation as the forensic authorities continue its investigation of the bombings and rescue officials coordinate the retrieval and identification of bodies in the blast sites in the London Underground train system.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy has intensified its communication with the Filipino community in London through the various Filipino associations and by mobile phones, text messaging and email to try and account for all Filipinos and confirm if there are any more who have been affected by the near-simultaneous blasts that hit several subway stations and at least one double-decker bus across Central London.

Ambassador Espiritu earlier confirmed that a Filipino woman married to a British national was wounded in the blasts that hit Aldgate East Station.  The Filipino, identified as Ms. Catherine Tantoco-Daniel, married to Mr. Tim Daniel, was immediately treated for her injuries that were superficial and not life threatening.  Catherine underwent surgery on the evening of the day of the incident at the Royal London Hospital for glass splinters in various parts of her body.  The Embassy is monitoring her condition as well and has reported that she is doing well, apart from recovering from the shock and trauma.  (For background details, please refer to official DFA press release no. SFA-AGR-472-05 dated 08 July 2005.)  END
 
 

/jay