Stay vigilant, DFA tells Filipinos in Iraq amid new attacks

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday, September 16, reminded the estimated 4,000 Filipinos in Iraq to restrict their movements in the face of new suicide attacks that killed more than 80 people.

Philippine Embassy in Iraq Chargé d’Affaires Elmer Cato said that no Filipino was among the victims of the 3 suicide attacks in Southern Iraq on Thursday, September 14, which was claimed by terrorist group ISIS.

But the DFA said Filipinos there should still be vigilant, especially those residing in Baghdad and surrounding areas.

Before Thursday’s attacks, a security point in Jadriya District near the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad was also attacked.

One of the targets of Thursday’s attacks is a a restaurant frequented by Shia pilgrims in Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar province south of Baghdad.

According to Cato, gunmen opened fire at the checkpoint and the restaurant along the main highway to Baghdad. A car bomb was also detonated.

“The Philippines condemns the latest attacks in Iraq and all other attacks against civilians by extremist elements in other parts of the world,” Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

Cayetano is in New York to attend the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Terrorist attacks such as those carried out against pilgrims in Dhi Qar Province have no room in civilized societies such as ours,” Cayetano said. – Rappler.com