10 October 2005 – Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Franklin M. Ebdalin conveyed the Philippines’ condolences to the peoples of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India for the deaths caused by the strong earthquake that shook the region on Saturday, 8 October 2005, and assured the three nations that the Philippines stands ready to provide them humanitarian assistance.

“On behalf of the Government and the People of the Philippines, I would like to convey to the Peoples of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India our condolences for the painful losses wrought by this calamity.  The Philippines stands ready to provide our Pakistani, Afghan and Indian brethren any humanitarian assistance they may seek, and prays for the quick recovery of these Nations from this great tragedy,” Acting Secretary Ebdalin said.    “The Philippine Government will monitor any appeal of the Governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India for humanitarian assistance and we will promptly respond to the best of our capabilities, human expertise and other resources to assist our Asian neighbors in their time of need,”  Acting Secretary Ebdalin added.

Meanwhile, Chargé d’Affaires, a. i. (CDA) Maria Agnes M. Cervantes of the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that no Filipinos have been reported dead or injured as a result of the earthquake in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

CDA Cervantes informed the Department that two Filipino nationals escaped unharmed and have been accounted for when the 11-storey residential building Margalla Towers collapsed in Islamabad.

She said that Filipino nationals Ms. Gina Oclarit and Ms. Jane Lapus were staying at the Margalla Towers when the earthquake struck.  They were both able to run out of the building before it collapsed.  Ms. Oclarit is presently at the Embassy while Ms. Lapus is in contact with Embassy personnel, and has been asked to go to the Embassy should she require further assistance.

CDA Cervantes also informed the Department that Embassy personnel and their families are now at the Embassy, and they are monitoring developments in areas affected by the quake, particularly being on the lookout for Filipino nationals requiring assistance.  Embassy personnel are also undertaking efforts to contact Filipinos who may be in the affected areas in Pakistan such as Peshawar and other cities in the country’s North Western Frontier Province.

She further reported that the Embassy was also able to contact Filipino national Mr. Telibert Laoc in Kabul, Afghanistan.  He informed the Embassy that no Filipino has as yet been reported killed or injured in the quake.  Mr. Laoc also assured the Embassy that he will report any new developments affecting the security of Filipinos in the various cities and towns in Afghanistan.

CDA Cervantes relayed to the Department that the Embassy has developed an efficient system of registration for Filipinos arriving in Islamabad and surrounding areas, except for Muslim Filipinos who enter Pakistan as tourists, and Filipino women who may have arrived in Pakistan as spouses to Pakistani nationals.  The Embassy continues to monitor this sector of the Filipino population in Pakistan but the latest report indicated that no Filipino fatality or injured in this earthquake.

CDA Cervantes also informed the Department that the Embassy has established a monitoring and assistance team to provide regular updates on the situation especially for any international appeal for humanitarian assistance and to promptly extend assistance to Filipino nationals in its jurisdiction.

In the meantime, initial reports from the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi indicate no Filipino casualty from the strong tremor in India.

The records of the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad show that there are 550 Filipinos in Pakistan as of 30 April 2005.   The records of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, DFA also show that there are 370 Filipinos in Afghanistan and 402 Filipinos in India as of 31 December 2004. END