Filipino hurt, property of 2 others damaged in London riots—DFA

Three Filipinos were affected by the riots in London, 990AM said Thursday, quoting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

MANILA, Philippines – Three Filipinos were affected by the riots in London, 990AM said Thursday, quoting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

In the budget hearing at the House of Representatives, Del Rosario was quoted as telling lawmakers that in the latest report of the Department of Foreign Affairs, a Filipino was hurt and was brought to the hospital.

Another lost his car in the riots while a shop owner had the glass of her store broken. Both were unharmed, said Del Rosario.

All three have not been identified, the report said.

Del Rosario said they were closely monitoring the situation of the Filipinos living in England.

In an interview Wednesday also aired on 990AM, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said no Filipino was hurt but that they have been in close coordination with acting ambassador to UK Reynaldo Catapang in London.

He added that leaders of Filipino communities in the country had been alerted, and were monitoring the status of the riots which began Saturday night.

The DFA likewise issued an advisory for Filipinos in London warning them to be alert, and refrain from going to business and shopping centers where looting was rampant, and violence escalating, Hernandez said.

The DFA spokesman said that Filipinos in London may contact the Philippine embassy’s hotline at numbers 00-44-780-279-06-95. The hotline is open to receive complaints, or reports related to the ongoing riots.

Meanwhile, those in Manila who have relatives in London may contact the DFA at 834-33-33.

The riots in London began Saturday night when an initially peaceful protest on a police shooting turned violent, wire agencies reported.

London police on Wednesday deployed 16,000 policemen, and has reportedly calmed down youth rioters. But violence has reportedly erupted in other parts of the UK, as well.