Sunday, August 14, 2011

PH envoy visits Pinoy who lost car to rioters | ABS-CBN News

LINK: PH envoy visits Pinoy who lost car to rioters | ABS-CBN News


LONDON – Philippine Ambassador Rey Catapang visited Croydon where some 200 Filipino families live. 
Croydon is one of the badly hit areas during the rioting that spiraled out of control on Monday. 
No Filipino was reported hurt in Croydon, but the car of one named Arnel was stolen. 
“Sabi nila 'get off the car.' Nung di ako gumagalaw, may sumakay sa passenger seat, sumakay naman yung isa sa likuran,” Arnel said.
Arnel did not fight back to avoid getting hurt. 
“Ibigay na lang kung ano ang gusto nila kaysa buhay ang kunin. Materyal na bagay napapalitan,” he said.
In the emergency session of the Parliament, Prime Minister David Cameron said the fight back has begun and no one will be spared.
With the help of CCTV footage, scores of riot offenders are being identified. Scotland Yard staged a series of raids to bring more offenders to justice.   
The government said 20 million pounds will be earmarked to help the victims of rioting.   
Ambassador Catapang said Filipino victims should come forward to receive assistance or compensation. 
“Yung entitlement nila sa compensation, tinutulungan natin sila na makipag-usap sa local authorities other than that, we have offered to help them in anyway." 
A Filipino was hurt in Birmingham riots and 2 Pinoys reported cases of damage to property.
But a Croydon Filipino Community leader said the rioting has affected Pinoys in varying degrees. 
“Yung mga Pinoy sa healthcare affected sila sa transportation kasi may mga areas na naparalisa,” said Rommel Abellar. 
Life started to return to back to normal but Pinoys here are still coming to terms with the horror of the violence that left homes and businesses ruined and people injured and dead.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

No Filipinos hurt in London riots – DFA

LINK: No Filipinos hurt in London riots – DFA

MANILA - No Filipinos have been involved in the riots in London, and other parts of the United Kingdom, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
In an interview aired on 990AM, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said 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 are 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 are rampant, and violence are 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.
(Inquirer.net)