DFA condemns shooting of Saudi lecturer, diplomat; vows to monitor probe closely

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned on Wednesday, the shooting of an Islamic scholar and a diplomat from the embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Philippines, promising to monitor the situation closely.

“The DFA regrets the occurrence of the shooting incident on the evening of 01 March 2016 at the Western Mindanao State University, which injured Saudi Islamic scholar, Dr. Aid Al-Quarni, and Saudi Embassy religious attaché Sheikh Turki Assaegh. We pray for the speedy recovery of Dr. Al-Quarni and Sheikh Assaegh,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in reading a prepared statement on Wednesday.

The two were shot right inside the Western Mindanao State University on Tuesday night. Police reported that Al-Qarni had just finished his lecture at the WMSU gymnasium and was already onboard his service vehicle with Assaegh, when the assailant shot them.

“The Philippine government condemns all forms of violence, especially as they occur in schools, which are considered zones of peace,” Del Rosario said.

“We continue to monitor the situation closely and trust that local authorities in Zamboanga City conduct a thorough investigation into this attack,” he added.  SFM