MALACAŇANG on Friday, November 9, offered prayers for 18-year-old Alaina Punzalan Housley and other victims of the mass shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks, California.
"The Palace offers its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the families of those who perished in the latest mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California late Wednesday evening," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Housley was among at least 12 people who were killed when a guman opened fire inside the Borderline Bar and Grill late Wednesday night, November 8, in Thousand Oaks.
Reports said the lone suspect, 28-year-old Ian David Long, was found dead inside the packed bar during college night. Long was believed to have shot himself.
Housely, 18, was a freshman student at Pepperdine University.
"We express our deep condolences to her family and loved ones," Panelo said.
Panelo said the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles continues to monitor the developments of the tragic incident.
He also assured that the Philippine Consulate General was coordinating with authorities and leaders of the Filipino-American community to check whether there were Filipinos among the wounded.
Panelo noted that there are 25,879 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans living in Ventura County. (SunStar Philippines)