The Philippines today again called on Filipinos abroad to exercise a higher level of vigilance in the wake of another attempted terror attack in the United States.
The Department of Foreign Affairs issued the advisory after a morning rush hour explosion at a major transportation hub in New York on Monday left at least four persons injured, none of them Filipinos.
“We encourage our kababayans abroad to heighten their vigilance,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in response to what authorities said was a terrorist attack at the Port Authority Terminal in Manhattan.
The latest attack came more than five weeks after eight persons were killed and 11 others injured also 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.
“It is important for our kababayans wherever they are abroad to know how to respond in the event of a terror incident,” the Secretary said.
He added that Filipinos traveling abroad for work, business or even pleasure must have the contact details of Philippine embassies and consulates in countries they would be going so that they can call their emergency hotlines in case they would need assistance.
Secretary Cayetano, at the same time, expressed his wish for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.
In its initial report to Manila, the Philippine Consulate General in New York said the incident involved the premature detonation of a pipe bomb in an underground passage in the 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 who was also reported to have been in possession of a second explosive device, is now in police custody.
Consul General Dizon-De Vega said that immediately after the incident, the consulate issued an advisory requesting members of the 56,100-strong Filipino Community to avoid the area and to observe usual precautions while the investigation is ongoing.
Consul General 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, including personnel of the consulate and the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, to take their connecting subway rides to their offices in Manhattan. (DFA)
