PH envoy to Turkey: All ‘kababayans’ are safe after airport attack

Passengers embrace each other at the entrance to Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, early Wednesday, June 29, 2016 following their evacuation after a blast. Suspected Islamic State group extremists have hit the international terminal of Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, killing dozens of people and wounding many others, Turkish officials said Tuesday. Turkish authorities have banned distribution of images relating to the Ataturk airport attack within Turkey. AP

Philippine ambassador to Turkey Rowena Sanchez said “all kababayans” are safe following the triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport Wednesday that killed at least 36 people.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has tagged the Islamic State to be behind the attack.

READ: 36 dead in Istanbul airport suicide attack; PM tags ISIS

“We are all safe. As per our leaders and our checks, all our kababayans are ok,” Sanchez told the Inquirer through an email.

She said there are around 3,500 Filipinos in Turkey, 2,000 of them are in Istanbul.

“Our kababayans mostly work in households, some are nurses, teachers, entertainers, some are [scholars],” said Sanchez.

READ: No Filipino casualties so far in Turkey attack, says DFA

But Ambassador Sanchez said she is concerned about possible Filipino tourists who may be affected in the attacks.

Last year, there were around 60,000 Filipino tourists in Turkey, she said.

“We are concerned for possible tourists. Our check with the hospitals [had] negative results,” said Sanchez.

“But it’s not final, I hope there are no (Filipinos) among the casualties.” CDG

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