The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it will not issue a travel advisory to the United States even after two bombs exploded during the Boston Marathon on Monday (US time), killing at least three people and leaving over 100 others injured.
“We don't have any travel advisory for that but in general, when things [like this] happen in a particular place, we advise our people to be vigilant,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters in a press briefing on Tuesday (Philippine time).
A travel advisory is usually issued to defer Filipinos from visiting a particular country when it is experiencing vast strife or turmoil resulting in deadly conflict.
Hernandez noted that no Filipinos were hurt or killed in the incident so far even though some 18,700 Filipinos call Boston and Massachusetts their home.
He said the DFA and the Philippine Consulate is currently coordinating with the local Fil-Am community and authorities.
“We are still monitoring this with the police in Boston as well as the hospitals and the Filipino community leaders in the area,” he added.
Hernandez asaid the DFA urged Filipinos in the US to avoid large crowds for now.
The DFA also extended its condolences to the families of those affected by the bombing incident.
No Pinoy casualties in Boston blasts
Meanwhile, Philippine Consul General Mario de Leon in New York said as of 8:30 p.m. EST, the consulate has not received any report of any Filipino casualties from authorities and leaders of the Filipino-American Community.
At least three have been killed and dozens were injured.
De Leon said the consulate is coordinating with authorities in Boston and the Filipino-American Community to make sure that all Filipinos who were in the area at the time of the incident are all safe and accounted for.
Around 27,000 runners from 96 countries, including the Philippines, took part in the race. Ten marathon participants from the Philippines were listed in the Boston Marathon website, De Leon said.
There are about 18,700 Filipino residents in Massachusetts, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.
The explosions took place along Boylston Street near Copley Square within 12 seconds of each other and one block apart at around 2:50 p.m. while marathon participants were approaching the finish line. Police said two persons, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed and more than 132 injured, including eight children in the blasts.
Police and officials of St. Elizabeth Medical Hospital, Boston University Medical, Massachusetts General and New England Medical Center who were contacted by Consul Felipe Carino following the incident reported no Filipino casualties.
Runner Arland Macasieb told De Leon that he was with six other Filipino participants who were able to finish the race at least two hours before the explosion.
Macasieb said two other Filipinos were not far behind and would have completed the race more than an hour before the explosions while the last Filipino runner was unable to officially finish because runners were no longer allowed to cross the finish line after the blasts.
De Leon said there were also six volunteer nurses from the Philippine Nurses Association-New England Chapter led by Eden Gianan who were in the area at the time of the explosions. All were reported to be safe. - Andrei Medina, Michaela del Callar, VVP, GMA News
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