Marcos condoles with Indonesia, Thailand families

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos extended yesterday his condolences to the families of those who perished in the recent football stampede in Indonesia and the attack at a daycare center in Thailand.

“We condole deeply with the families of those lost in the recent tragedies of the Indonesia football stampede and the Thailand daycare attack,” Marcos said in a post on Twitter. “We pray for the recovery of the survivors, healing of those left behind and that the departed may rest in peace.”

Hundreds of fans were crushed as they fled an overpacked Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java on Oct. 1 after police fired tear gas to disperse supporters of the losing team who invaded the pitch.

At least 131 people died, among them 33 minors, in one of the world’s worst soccer disasters, according to reports.

Marcos met with President Joko Widodo during his inaugural visit to Indonesia last month.

The incident in Thailand involved a former policeman who killed at least 34 people, including 23 children, during a knife and gun attack on Thursday. The tragedy is one of the worst child death tolls in a massacre by a single killer in recent history.

Marcos is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week in Bangkok next month.