Press Secretary Beatrix Rose "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles (Screengrab from RTVM)
MANILA – Malacañang on Friday prayed for the full recovery of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was shot during a political event.
In a Palace press briefing, Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles echoed the statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo who was "shocked" and "dismayed" by the apparent shooting of Abe.
"On the shooting of Shinzo Abe, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs has expressed shock and dismay over this tragedy and we are praying that Mr. Shinzo recovers fully," Cruz-Angeles said.
Abe was delivering a speech at a political event on a street in the western city of Nara when he was shot from behind by an unidentified person, according to a report from Tokyo-based Kyodo News.
The incident happened when Abe was on a tour to Nara as part of campaigning for the Liberal Democratic Party's candidate.
Abe, 67, collapsed soon after the gunshot was heard, Japan-based public broadcaster NHK reported.
NHK, citing the fire department, said Abe is showing no vital signs and is in cardiopulmonary arrest.
A man, believed to be the shooter, has been taken into custody.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko thanked Manalo for his sympathies and vowed that the Japanese government will "take all possible measures to deal with the situation."
"Such a despicable act, for whatever reason, is unacceptable, and we condemn it unreservedly," he said. (PNA)
