Be vigilant vs terror attacks, overseas Pinoys urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday urged the more than 10 million Filipinos overseas to be vigilant following the recent foiled terror attacks in Russia and a fatal shooting incident in Burkina Faso.

“We want our kababayans wherever they are abroad to always remain vigilant and be prepared because these senseless acts of violence can happen anywhere and when we least expect them,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

Quoting a report from Ambassador Carlos Sorreta, the DFA said Russian intelligence was able to prevent Islamic militants from carrying out attacks, which reportedly included two suicide bombings.

In Ouagadougou, 18 persons were killed when Islamic militants opened fire at a restaurant frequented by foreigners.

The DFA said it monitored other small-scale attacks that took place in other parts of the world, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, during the past few days.

Citing data from the global terrorism database, the DFA said around 1,102 terror incidents took place worldwide from January to August and 1,204 terror attacks occurred during the same period in 2016.  

A total of 1,820 terror incidents were recorded from January to December 2016.

Cayetano conveyed his sympathies to the families of victims in the Burkina Faso attack. 

“We mourn with the families of those who lost their lives in this incident in Burkina Faso,” Cayetano said.

He said the government condemned the attacks in Nigeria and Pakistan that killed more than 50 people and wounded more than 100 others. 

“We stand in solidarity with the governments and peoples of Nigeria and Pakistan as they confront the same threat of violent extremism that we are now also faced with in Mindanao,” he said.

A female suicide bomber detonated herself at a busy market in the city of Maidoguri in northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, killing 27 persons and wounding several others.

Two other suicide bombers attacked a nearby refugee camp, wounding several more. 

In Pakistan, a suicide bomber killed at least 15 people and wounded more than 40 others in an attack on a military convoy in the southwestern city of Quetta on Saturday.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident. 

Meanwhile, no Filipinos were reported killed in the mudslides in Sierra Leone that left more than 300 people dead and at least 600 others missing on Monday.  

The DFA condoled with the families of victims.

“We extend our sympathy and prayers to Sierra Leone and its people who lost loved ones in the mudslides in Freetown,” Cayetano said in a statement.