The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is calling on Filipinos to pray for a Filipino lawyer who is in a critical condition after being shot in a random shooting incident in Philadelphia recently.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin identified the shooting incident victim as John Laylo.
Philippine Consulate General in New York Elmer Cato said on Sunday night, June 19, that Laylo is "on life support" and asked Filipinos to pray for him to pull through.
"We call on kababayan to pray hard with us so that Atty John Laylo, who we have just been informed remains on life support after yesterday’s random shooting incident in Philadelphia, would pull through," Cato said on Twitter.
We call on kababayan to pray hard with us so that Atty John Laylo, who we have just been informed remains on life support after yesterday’s random shooting incident in Philadelphia, would pull through. @teddyboylocsin @susanople @PHinNewYork
— Elmer G Cato (@elmer_cato) June 19, 2022
It came as a clarification to an earlier report that a Filipino was shot dead in the shooting.
Locsin also ordered Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola to provide "all the help" Laylo needs. The DFA will pay, he said.
Arriola, on the other hand, said that the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OUMWA) "is on standby" for any request of support the Philippine Consul General in New York needs to assist Laylo.
"OUMWA is on standby SFA for any request and support that @PHinNewYork will need. We are in close coordination with Consul General @elmer_cato (Elmer Cato)," she said on Twitter.