MANILA— The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Friday advised all Filipinos in Syria to be vigilant and take necessary precautions following the Islamic State-led suicide bombings which killed more than 200 civilians in the southern part of the country.
Citing reports from the Philippine embassy in Damascus, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said at least 150 other people were wounded due to multiple IS-led suicide bombings in the government-held town of Sweida.
Of the fatalities, he reported no Filipino was included.
At the same time, Cayetano condoled with the bereaved families of the 200, who perished from coordinated attacks by the Islamic State in Sweida, Syria.
“We grieve with the families of the more than 200 people who lost their lives in the latest acts of terror by the Islamic State,” Cayetano said.
Chargè d’Affaires Alex Lamadrid said the embassy is in touch with two Filipino women, married to Syrians, in Sweida. Both reported that their families are safe.
“We again call on our remaining kababayan in Syria to be vigilant and to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and security.”
The embassy said it is ready to assist the estimated 1,000 Filipinos still in Syria who may want to be repatriated back to the Philippines.
On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the terrorist attacks.
“He is appalled by the utter disregard for human life displayed by Da’esh. The Secretary-General expresses his condolences to the families of the victims of the incidents and wishes those injured a speedy recovery,” his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.
“Those responsible for the attacks must be held accountable,” he added. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)