Pinoys in Barcelona advised to be vigilant after deadly van attack


Filipinos in Barcelona are advised to remain vigilant after a van plowed into crowds killing at least 13 people and injuring over a hundred others, an official of the Philippine Embassy in Madrid, Spain said Friday.
"We have advised our kababayans na mag-ingat, 'wag masyadong maglalabas kung unnecessary...Of course hindi pa natin alam kung how normal things will be," Philippine Embassy in Madrid Consul General Dr. Emmanuel Fernandez said in an interview on radio dzBB.
He added that over 20,000 Filipinos are residing in Barcelona and nearby areas who are mostly working in domestic services or in restaurants.
Meanwhile, Filipinos can direct their concerns and seek assistance in the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Barcelona.
"Marami tayong Filipino diyan especially sa Barcelona mismo and nearby areas ng Barcelona...Meron tayong tinatawag na honorary consulate diyan sa Barcelona, ito'y isang opisina na pwedeng tumugon sa ano mang needs ng ating mga kababayan diyan and we are in a very close coordination with the honorary consul sa Barcelona," he said.
The injured Filipinos were a father and his five-year-old child. The father has sustained minor injuries, while the child was described as seriously injured and may require surgery.
Fernandez said that the family were Irish of Filipino descent visiting the popular tourist spot at the time of the incident.

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