PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III condemned the terrorist attacks in Paris, France which French President Francois Hollande blamed on the Islamic State.
“Terror and brutality have plunged the City of Light, Paris, into the darkness of horror and grief. The Philippines and its people stand in solidarity with the people of Paris and all of France, in this time of deepest sorrow and the gravest outrage against the perpetrators of these crimes,” Aquino said.
Aquino said the deaths due to the attack on the Bataclan Concert Hall, the vicinity of the Stade de France, and on restaurants in the city center were “atrocities that demand a united voice from the world in condemnation and grief.”
“In our time of need, France and her people stood shoulder to shoulder with the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon ‘Haiyan’. We stand with France now, in the firm belief that the light must never dim in Paris,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs said no Filipino casualty has so far been reported in Friday’s coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris.
“So far there are no reports of Filipinos affected by the incident in Paris. Our embassy continues to monitor closely the situation and stands ready to extend assistance to Filipinos who may need it,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said on Saturday.
There are around 48,000 Filipinos in France, according to a 2013 data by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, while more than 10 million are scattered across the globe, making them vulnerable to security threats, calamities and domestic conflicts in their host countries.
Hollande declared a state of emergency following what he described as an unprecedented terrorist attack that was staged days before France was to host a global climate conference.
France, on the other hand, expressed gratitude to the Philippines for its expression of sympathy following last Friday’s deadly attacks that left more than 100 people killed in Paris.
“We are deeply touched by the heartfelt expressions of support in the Philippines extended by President Benigno S. Aquino III, the national and local authorities, the people of the Philippines,” the French Embassy said in a statement.
“France will always fight against extremism and stand for the values of democracy and human rights enshrined in our national motto ‘Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite which was coined in Paris centuries ago,” it said. “Today we are all Parisians.”
Hollande is set to address parliament on Monday and declared three days of national mourning, the embassy said.