Pinoy runner: A sad day for Boston, sports even though all Pinoy runners safe

Filipino-American runner Arland Macasieb said Monday was a "sad day" for Boston and sports after two explosions at the Boston Marathon that killed at least three people and injured over 100 others.

In an interview by “News to Go" host Howie Severino on Tuesday (Philippine time), Macasieb said, "“[It was] such a sad day for Boston, the US in general and for the sport,” he said, adding that “It's an attack on us athletes.”

Macasieb participated in the marathon with seven of his group mates from the Fil-Am Triathlon Club but said between 12 to 16 Filipinos actually joined the marathon.

“We're all okay and I think our whole team is safe and accounted for,” he said.

Reuters news agency reported that two bombs ripped through the crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing three people, causing several amputations and injuring more than 100 in what a White House official said would be handled as an "act of terror."

It was the worst bombing on US soil since security was tightened after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and President Barack Obama promised to hunt down whoever was responsible for the attack on a day when tens of thousands of spectators packed the streets to watch the world-famous race.

Heightened security

Macasieb cited the heightened security in Boston after the incident.

“There's definitely a heightened state of security. There's a lot more police. Hopefully they get the situation under control and find out who's responsible,” said Macasieb.

He said the Boston lockdown caused difficult access to public transportation especially the train subways while New York has also increased their security as well.

On "News To Go," Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick was quoted as saying that Boston is currently under lockdown after the twin explosions.

“The national security guard has secured that crime scene and is limiting access to it,” Patrick said.

He added that the heightened law enforcement presence in Boston will affect the next day or two while the investigation continues.

“The city of Boston is open and will be open tomorrow but it will not be business as usual,” Patrick said before asking for the patience of citizens for the inconvenience due to the lockdown.

Meanwhile, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said there are already people who are being questioned by authorities to get to the bottom of the incident.

It hasnt been confirmed yet if the explosion in the Boston Marathon and at the JFK presidential library are connected.

Marathon cut short

Meanwhile, Macasieb recalled that the explosion occurred around the four-hour mark where roughly half of the runners have already finished.

After the explosion, the participants were being told to stop running at the 40-kilometer mark.

“I think the only people who were hurt and injured were the spectators. All the runners for the most part were okay but it still doesnt take away the tragedy,” he said.

Macasieb recalled he crossed the same finish line just an hour before the bomb exploded.

“Right where the explosion happened was right where I crossed the line just an hour ahead of time. So had they decided to detonate an hour earlier, I would have been in the line of fire. Its pretty scary,” he said. - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News