DFA: Pinay hurt in Moscow subway blast

(Updated 6:45 p.m.) A Filipino woman was among the 102 people hurt in the blast that hit a subway station in Moscow, Russia Monday morning, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Citing initial reports from Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Victor Garcia III, DFA spokesperson Eduardo Malaya said the woman, Maria Aileen Ponting, sustained facial injuries. "May isang Pilipina na nagkaroon ng minor facial injury sa pagsabog sa Moscow subway station. (Pero) ang kanyang injuries ay hindi life-threatening (A Filipino woman sustained minor facial injuries in the subway station blast. But the injuries are not life-threatening)," Malaya said in an interview on dzRH radio. He said Ponting is getting medical assistance but could not say if she was taken to a hospital. "Ang ating embahada ay pumunta sa kanya at tinulungan siya. Di ko masabi at this time kung siya [ay] nangangailangan to stay in the hosptial (Our embassy staff went to her and are helping her. I cannot say at this time if she needs to be hospitalized)," he said. Malaya said there are 1,083 Filipinos in Russia, many of them professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers. For his part, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos said the officers and staff of the embassy are "safe and are currently monitoring the situation there." Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on Moscow's subway system as it was jam-packed with rush-hour passengers Monday. [See: Officials: Two blasts on Moscow subway kill 37] At least 37 were killed and 102 wounded, according to an Associated Press report. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV