2 Filipinos killed in Abu Dhabi blast

ABS-CBN News Posted at Sep 01 2020 10:56 PM | Updated as of Sep 01 2020 11:50 PM2 Filipinos killed in Abu Dhabi blast MANILA (2nd UPDATE) - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday confirmed that two Filipinos were killed in an explosion at a restaurant in Sheikh Rashid Bin Seed Road, (also known as Airport Road) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In a statement, the DFA said Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana has reached out to the families of the deceased to express condolences, as well as to assure them that they will be provided with all the necessary assistance. "It is with deep sadness that the Embassy shares the latest information that two Filipinos died from the unfortunate accident yesterday caused by a gas explosion at a restaurant at Sheikh Rashid Bin Seed Road,” the statement said. The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi is also coordinating with local officials to obtain information on other Filipinos who were also injured in the incident. Relatives and friends of the victims took to social media to express their condolences. Harriette Abuyabor Bartoces, the aunt of one of the victims, Meeriner Bartoces, thanked everyone who helped their family locate her niece. “It’s painful but we have to accept it. We are sincerely grateful to all who helped. To my friends, to those people who we do not even know who helped us by sharing, finding info from the hospital, at the police and embassy and to all who shouted, thank you very much. May her soul, rest in eternal peace," she said on Facebook. Meeriner worked at a cashier at the restaurant where the explosion occurred. Elmer Paglinawan, an OFW from Abu Dhabi, also expressed his condolences to the family of the other victim, Clark Gasis. “Kasama pala ang isa kong naging kakampi sa basketball na si Clark Gasis sa isang pagsabog ng gas explosion kahapon sa KFC and Hardees restaurant. Paalam bro and condolence sa pamilya. Mabait na ama at mabait na kaibigan at tahimik na tao," he wrote. Local authorities earlier said two people died in the explosion which happened Monday morning. - with a report from Rachel Salinel, ABS-CBN News

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PCG: China’s bullying in West Philippine Sea undermines international law --- Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — Letting China sustain its aggression in the West Philippine Sea would make other countries doubt the strength of international law currently being asserted by the Philippines, Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. “Allowing China to blatantly disregard the established rules-based order threatens the very foundation that we all depend on,” he wrote in a post on X last Tuesday. He added, “If we permit this, countries worldwide may forget why this order was created in the first place. Nations could begin to doubt the significance of adhering to international law if powerful bullies can easily violate it.” Tarriela also said defiance of other countries to a rules-based order would result in the prevalence of cruelty. He wrote, “This could lead us back to a time when might makes right, undermining the global structures that keep human greed, savagery and barbarism in check. Such a scenario would not only invite challenges from aggressive ...
Read more

China ships maintain presence in key West Philippine Sea areas --- Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star

STAR / Michael Varcas MANILA, Philippines — While Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have decreased in number, they have maintained a presence in three key land features where naval and coast guard ships have intensified operations in the past seven days, according to the Philippine Navy. Latest monitoring by the Philippine Navy showed armed ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) maintaining a menacing presence around the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Panatag Shoal and Escoda Shoal. According to the Philippine Navy, there are 17 Chinese military vessels and 28 China Coast Guard (CCG) boats spotted inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between Sept. 23 and 30, or one vessel more than in the previous week Sept.17-23. Five of the warships were seen roaming around the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, along with 10 CCG vessels and 12 maritime militia vessels (MMVs). There are also two PLAN ships in Ayungin Shoal as well as 10 CCG boats and 12...
Read more

Social media seen as cause of rising intermarriages --- Helen Flores - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) sees social media as the main reason for the rising number of Filipinos marrying or becoming partners of foreign nationals. In 2022, the CFO recorded 6,854 marriages or partnerships with foreign nationals, a 40.1 percent increase from the 4,891 “intermarriages” recorded in 2021. “First of all, what we see in the increase in the marriage rate of Filipinos or Filipinos with foreign partners is because of social media, (that) is number one; matchings; letters, introduction of their friends,” CFO chairperson Romulo Arugay said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing yesterday. Arugay said the agency has been registering a high number of intermarriages since 2007, but the figures went down during the COVID-19 pandemic. From over 6,500 Filipinos who married foreign nationals, only 600 are men, he said. Most of them are married to Americans, Japanese, Germans, Canadians and Australians, Arugay said. Arugay warned Fi...
Read more