No Filipino casualties in Boston blasts – Phl consulate

NEW YORK/MANILA – There are  no Filipino casualties in the deadly explosions that marred the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon (Tuesday in Manila), according to the Philippine Consulate General in New York.
Consul General Mario de Leon said that as of 8:30 p.m. EST, the consulate still has not received any report of any Filipino casualties from authorities and leaders of the Filipino-American Community.

At least three have been killed and dozens were injured in the two blasts that rocked the marathon.
De Leon said the consulate is coordinating with authorities in Boston and the Filipino-American Community to make sure that all Filipinos who were in the area at the time of the incident are all safe and accounted for.
Around 27,000 runners from 96 countries, including the Philippines, took part in the race. Ten marathon participants from the Philippines were listed in the Boston Marathon website, De Leon said.
There are about 18,700 Filipino residents in Massachusetts, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.
The explosions took place along Boylston Street near Copley Square within 12 seconds of each other and one block apart at around 2:50 p.m. while marathon participants were approaching the finish line. Police said two persons, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed and more than 132 injured, including eight children in the blasts.
Police and officials of St. Elizabeth Medical Hospital, Boston University Medical, Massachusetts General and New England Medical Center who were contacted by Consul Felipe Carino following the incident reported no Filipino casualties.
Runner Arland Macasieb told De Leon that he was with six other Filipino participants who were able to finish the race at least two hours before the explosion.
Macasieb said two other Filipinos were not far behind and would have completed the race more than an hour before the explosions while the last Filipino runner was unable to officially finish because runners were no longer allowed to cross the finish line after the blasts. The 10th runner was two miles away from the finish line when the incident occurred, he added.
De Leon said there were also six volunteer nurses from the Philippine Nurses Association-New England Chapter led by Eden Gianan who were in the area at the time of the explosions. All were reported to be safe. 
The Embassy of the Philippines and the Philippine Consulates General in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Agana extendED their deepest sympathy to and expressED solidarity with the victims of the explosions  in Boston, Massachusetts, on Monday,  April 15.
“We mourn the loss of innocent lives and pray for those who were injured as a result of this incident that took place on a day when the people of Boston, including the Filipino-American Community, commemorate an important day in Massachusetts and United States history,” officials said in a statement.
 Although there have been no reports of any Filipino casualties, the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. is coordinating with federal authorities in connection with the incident to ensure that all Filipino nationals in Boston are safe and accounted for. 
The Philippine Consulate General in New York remains in contact with law enforcement authorities, hospitals, Filipino-American Community organizations, media, and Filipino and Filipino-American athletes who took part in the Boston Marathon to ensure  updates on developments. The other Consulates General in the United States mainland continue to monitor the situation in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
 To ensure that there are no Filipinos affected by the incident, the Consulate General in New York dispatched a consular officer to Boston  to meet with authorities and members of the Filipino-American Community. The consular officer is ready to extend any assistance that Filipino nationals there may require.
In light of this incident, the Filipino Community in the United States is advised to continue monitoring developments and to observe the usual caution when attending or going to large, public gatherings. The public may likewise contact the Duty Officer of the Philippine Consulate General in New York at 917.294.0196 for any emergencies related to the Boston explosions.