P-Noy mourns loss of lives in US shooting

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino joined other world leaders yesterday in expressing sympathy to and solidarity with those who lost their loved ones in a shooting incident in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 schoolchildren were among those killed.

“At this time of the deepest mourning over the tragic loss of lives in Connecticut,” Aquino said, he, “together with the entire Filipino people, stand beside the victims and their loved ones with bowed heads, yet in deep admiration over the manner in which the American people have reached out to comfort the afflicted, and to search for answers that will give meaning and hope to this grim event.”

“We pray for healing, and that this heartbreak will never be visited on any community ever again,” Aquino said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said most people were horrified about what happened.

Valte said the incident was more heartbreaking since young children were the victims of the massacre.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the families, to the teachers, to the loved ones of everybody in Sandy Hook, and really nobody imagined this kind of incident. Our hearts and minds are with them, and our prayers are with them as they go through a very, very difficult time, especially since Christmas is coming,” Valte said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said no Filipino was reported among the casualty in the massacre.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said they had not received any report of Filipino casualty from the Philippine Consulate General in New York as of yesterday morning.

“Our post in New York is, however, still checking with US authorities and Filipino-American community to make sure if any Fil-Am is among the victims of the shooting incident,” Hernandez said.

The Philippine embassy in Washington extended its sympathy to the United States following the shooting incident, one of the worst mass shootings in US history.

The embassy, at the same time, said it is trying to make sure that there are no Filipino-Americans among the casualties in what has been described as one of the deadliest school shootings in US history.

“We join the government of the United States and the American people in mourning the loss of so many innocent lives,” Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said.

“Our hearts go to the families of those who lost loved ones in this tragedy.”

News reports said the incident involved a lone gunman who opened fire inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, at around 9:40 a.m.

The incident left eight adults, including the gunman, and 20 students dead.  – With Pia Lee-Brago