DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-803-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                             10 November  2005

PHILEMB AMMAN REPORTS NO FILIPINOS HURT IN 3 BOMB BLASTS,
ISSUES ADVISORY TO FILIPINOS IN JORDAN TO ENSURE “PERSONAL SECURITY”

10 November 2005 – Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. (CDA) Arvic V. Arevalo of the Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy has not received any reports of Filipino casualties of the three bomb blasts that hit popular international tourist hotels in Amman on 9 November 2005, and at the same time has issued an advisory to Filipinos in Jordan as well as all Embassy personnel and their families to limit their movements and to ensure their “personal security.”

Three powerful explosions hit the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Radisson SAS Hotel, and the Days Inn Hotel – all popular international tourist hotels in Amman – at around 9:15 p.m. yesterday, 9 November 2005.

CDA Arevalo said that as of 11:00 p.m. yesterday, reports placed the estimated number of dead at 32 and around 120 others injured.  According to news reports, majority of the dead and injured are American and Iraqi guests of the three hotels.

CDA Arevalo stated that although the Embassy has not received any report of Filipinos among the dead and injured, the Embassy continues to verify with Jordanian authorities whether there are Filipinos among the blasts’ casualties, and is also cross-checking with its contacts in the Filipino community in Amman.

The Middle East Preparedness Team headed by Presidential Special Envoy to the Middle East Ambassador Roy Cimatu, currently in Amman, is safe and secured, CDA Arevalo added.

He further said that unconfirmed reports say that the blasts were carried out by suicide bombers, although no group has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The Radisson SAS Hotel attack was carried out at a wedding banquet with about 250 guests, while the Grand Hyatt Hotel was struck at the lobby’s coffee shop amidst the busy stream of hotel guests having their dinner.

In response to the attacks, the Jordanian Government has declared 10 November 2005 a holiday as a safety precaution.

CDA Arevalo assured the Department that the Embassy will continue to monitor the situation in Amman, especially on possible Filipino casualties, and will immediately report to the Department any new developments.  END

/jay