By
Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
December
12, 2017
MANILA
-- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday called on Filipinos
abroad to exercise "higher level of vigilance" in the wake of another
attempted terror attack in the United States.
The
DFA issued the advisory after a morning rush hour explosion at a major
transportation hub in New York that left at least four persons injured on
Monday.
As
per the agency, no Filipino was reported among the wounded.
In
its initial report to Manila, the Philippine Consulate General in New York said
the incident involved the premature detonation of a pipe bomb at the Port
Authority Terminal, which is the main transport hub for buses going in and out
of New York.
Consul
General Maria Teresa Dizon De Vega said a suspect, who was also injured in the
incident and was also reported to have been in possession of a second explosive
device, is now in police custody.
The
consulate, immediately after the attack, issued an advisory requesting the
56,100 members of the Filipino community to avoid the area and to observe usual
precautions while the investigation is ongoing.
Dizon-De
Vega said she was relieved no Filipino was among the injured since the Port
Authority Terminal is used by Filipinos from New Jersey and other nearby areas.
These
include personnel of the consulate and the Philippine Mission to the United
Nations who take their connecting subway rides to their offices.
The
latest attack came more than five weeks after eight persons were killed and 11
others were injured in Manhattan after they were ran over by a truck driven by
a follower of the Islamic State.
It
also followed warnings issued by the terrorist group that it would undertake
more attacks worldwide.
In
a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippine
government joins the international community in condemning the attack.
"Terrorism
and hate have no place in the society. We pray for the speedy recovery of those
injured," he said in a press briefing.
For
his part, DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano reminded Filipinos traveling abroad
for work, business or even pleasure to secure the contact details of Philippine
embassies and consulates in countries they would be going in case of emergency.
