PH Expresses Condolences to Germany; No Filipino Among Victims in Munster Car Ramming Incident

 

The Philippines today expressed its condolences to Germany following Saturday’s car ramming incident in the western part of the country that left three persons dead and more than 20 others injured. 

 

The Department of Foreign Affairs, at the same time, said no Filipinos were among the casualties in the incident in the historic city of Munster in North Rhine-Westphalia.

 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragedy in Munster,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said. 

 

“We also pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured in the incident,” Secretary Cayetano said after the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Essen reported that all the 4,200 members of the Filipino Community in North Rhine-Westphalia are safe.  

 

“We have been informed by Honorary Consul Heinz-Peter Heidrich that our kababayans in Munster and the rest of North Rhine-Westphalia are safe and accounted for,” Chargé d’Affaires Lilibeth Pono of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin said in her report to Secretary Cayetano. 

 

On Saturday, the Embassy issued an emergency advisory calling on the more than 22,500 Filipinos in Germany to be vigilant shortly after a man deliberately drove his van into a crowd of pedestrians in downtown Munster, 475 kilometers from Berlin. 

 

Three persons, including the van driver, were killed and at least 20 others injured in the incident that German authorities said had nothing to do with terrorism.###