DFA: No Pinoy hurt in Egypt protest violence

No Filipino was initially reported hurt in the violence that marred a demonstration at the Israeli embassy in Egypt, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday. DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez cited initial information from the Philippine Embassy in Egypt indicating Filipinos there are safe so far. “Nakausap ko ang ating charge d’affaires in Cairo ... Ang sabi niya walang Pilipino na naiulat na nasaktan o naapektuhan sa protesta na ginawa sa [Israel Embassy]," he said in an interview on the noontime newscast Balitanghali. Hernandez said there are some 5,000 Filipinos in Egypt, with 3,500 to 4,000 in Cairo. According to him, the Philippine Embassy there said the violence is “very much concentrated" in the area where the Israeli Embassy is located. Also, he said the Philippine embassy is far from the Israeli Embassy in Egypt. He likened their distance to the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City to the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Hernandez also said there is still no need to raise an alert level in Egypt, but added the Philippine embassy has a contingency plan if the need arises. “So far wala pa tayong notice ng alert level sa Egypt sa ngayon (For now, we do not see the need to raise an alert level in Egypt)," he said. As for a ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Egypt, Hernandez said the embassy will continue to assess the situation and make the proper recommendations. “Kung makita nila kailangan mag-ban ng deployment they will recommend. So far we have not reached that stage kailangan magrekomendasyon," he said. Earlier reports said Egyptian activists destroyed a wall around the Israeli Embassy and set police cars on fire in Cairo on Friday. The report said thousands after thousands demonstrated at Tahrir Square to push for a timetable for reforms and an end to military trials for civilians. Protesters scaled the embassy building, removed the Israeli flag for the second time in less than a month and burned it. — LBG, GMA News