26 July 2005 – Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo condemned the bombing incidents that occurred in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on 23 July 2005 which killed 88 people and injured more than 200 others, stating that it was a “tragic destruction of innocent lives and property” as he conveyed his sympathies to the Government and People of Egypt.

Secretary Romulo issued the following statement after the bombing incidents:

“On behalf of the Philippine Government, it is with deep sorrow that I wish to convey my sympathies to the Egyptian Government and People on the tragic destruction of innocent lives and property caused by three bomb explosions in Sharm el-Sheikh on 23 July 2005.

“I also wish to extend my condolences to the countries whose nationalities were killed or injured in this latest terror act in Egypt’s City of Peace.

“Terrorism has no race, creed or border; it only sows pain, destruction and fear.  The Philippines stands with the rest of the world in condemning this latest act of terrorism.  It is my fervent hope that the world would continue to stand united in the war against terrorism.

“For its part, the Philippines heads the APEC Anti-Terrorism Task Force and cooperates with various countries through data gathering, information sharing and skills training.  This endeavor is complemented by the Philippine initiative in the United Nations on Interfaith Dialogue, which aims to enhance interfaith cooperation among governments, civil society and the UN system, including the promotion of the culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, and the translation of shared values into action, to achieve sustainable peace in the twenty-first century.  As a result of this initiative, we presided over the UN Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace last June in New York.

“The Philippines will continue to maintain its strong links with the international community in the campaign against terrorism as we join peace loving Nations in preserving the freedom that we all enjoy today.”

The blasts occurred at 1:15 a.m. (local time), 23 July 2005, at a minibus parking lot in Sharm el-Sheikh’s Old Market district, an area frequented by Egyptian workers employed by the city’s numerous resorts.  Almost simultaneously, two miles away, a car bomb loaded with 300 kg of explosives rammed the outer entrance of a luxury hotel and detonated in its reception area, causing the almost-total destruction of the building.  A third bomb, hidden in a sack, exploded near a boardwalk along the beach where tourists often strolled in the evenings.

According to Mr. Said Abd al-Fattah, manager of the Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital where the victims were taken, while most of the fatalities were Egyptians, there were also foreigners among the dead, including two Britons, two Germans, an Italian and a Czech.  Among the injured foreigners are nine Italians, five Saudis, three Britons, a Russian, a Ukrainian and an Israeli Arab.

Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. (CDA) Sahid S. Glang of the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, reported to Secretary Romulo that no Filipino was reported killed or injured in the blasts.   CDA Glang said that Embassy officials met with representatives of Dal Al Fouad Hospital to inquire whether there were any Filipino casualties in the blasts.  He added that the Embassy sent two representatives to the military hospital in Maadi to inquire about the patients.   The Embassy also directed the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Officer and an Official Translator/Interpreter to visit Sharm el-Sheikh and the International Hospital there to confer with local authorities and establish with certainty that no Filpino was killed or injured in the blast.

CDA Glang further reported that the Embassy continues to coordinate with Egyptian authorities and Filipino Community organizations following this initial report that there were no Filipino casualties in the Sharm el-Sheikh bombings.

Secretary Romulo directed CDA Glang to continue monitoring the situation in Sharm el-Sheikh and extend all possible assistance to any Filipino who may be affected by the bombings.  END
 
 
 
 

/epa