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-079-07                                                                                                                                                            16 February 2007

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, ANKARA EXTENDS ASSISTANCE TO FIDE HONORARY PRESIDENT FLORENCIO CAMPOMANES  

16 February 2007 – Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim A. Guinomla reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy continues to monitor and extend assistance to Mr. Florencio Campomanes, Honorary President of the International Chess Federation (Federation Internationale des Echecs-FIDE) who was involved in a serious vehicular accident in Antalya Province , approximately 600 kilometers from the capital of Ankara .  

Campomanes or "Campo," as he is fondly called, was in Turkey for the FIDE executive board meeting and was on his way to the airport to board his flight back to Manila when the accident occurred on 2 February 2007 at 6:45 A.M. on Antalya-Muğla highway in Göynük area. The driver of the vehicle reportedly lost control and Campomanes was thrown from the car.  

Suffering serious injuries, he underwent a seven-hour surgery and has been confined since the accident at the Intensive Care Unit of the Antalya Anadolu Hospital .  

On 12 February 2007, Ambassador Guinomla directed Consul General Alfonso Ver to proceed to Antalya to convey the Embassy's wishes for his speedy recovery and to provide any possible assistance that Mr. Campomanes may need.  

Campomanes was accompanied by FIDE official Casto "Toti" Abundo and his sister Dr. Emelyn Abundo, Campomanes' personal doctor who came directly from Manila , and Ms. Lace Campomanes who flew in from New York . Mr. Campomanes was alert as he talked and even joked with his visitors.  

Dr. Abundo, who has been coordinating with the Turkish medical team said that Campomanes is stable and out of danger. “It may take a few more days for him to fully recover and gain strength to fly to the Philippines as he has expressed his desire to celebrate his 80th birthday in Manila ,” the doctor said. Dr. Abundo was satisfied with the medical attention, facilities and other amenities provided to Mr. Campomanes.  

Latest updates on his condition are found on the FIDE website, www.fide.com. END

/jay

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