Third Filipino killed in Israel-Hamas war: DFA | ABS-CBN

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Third Filipino killed in Israel-Hamas war: DFA

Third Filipino killed in Israel-Hamas war: DFA

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Oct 13, 2023 02:43 PM PHT

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Israeli soldiers patrol the area of an attack that killed more than 260 people at a music festival on 07 October, near Raim, Israel, 12 October 2023. EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK
Israeli soldiers patrol the area of an attack that killed more than 260 people at a music festival on 07 October, near Raim, Israel, 12 October 2023. EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK

Marcos orders DFA, embassies to look for 3 missing Pinoys

MANILA (UPDATE) — Another Filipino has been killed in Israel as it waged war with Hamas militants, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

This raises the number of Filipinos killed in conflict to 3, said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega.

The fatality was a 49-year-old Filipina caregiver from Negros Occidental, he said. Her family and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. were aware of her death, the official said.

"The Philippine government is working with the family, the embassy, Israel is in touch with the sisters who are in Kuwait for the repatriation of the remains," De Vega told Palace reporters.

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There are some 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, mostly working as caregivers, officials earlier said.

Meanwhile, 131 Filipinos remained in Hamas-run Gaza, including 3 tourists, De Vega official. At least 92 Filipinos sought repatriation from the enclave, he said.

"Not one has been repatriated yet because of the fact that Gaza is under blockade. But we are working on it. We are working with our diplomatic partners," he said.

Video from PTV

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MISSING FILIPINOS

De Vega said three other Filipinos remained missing nearly a week since the surprise assault by Hamas and Israel's military retaliation.

"However, it does not mean that there is no hope. There are a lot [of] missing [Filipinos] a week ago. Ngayon paunti nang paunti. Possibly, these 3 will show up," De Vega said.

De Vega said the President directed the DFA to other governments to seek "critical assistance in looking for Filipinos unaccounted for" and to help them get out of Gaza.

Some Southeast Asian nations countries have also offered help, such as Indonesia.

"We are talking to other governments kasi baka dinala sa iba't ibang bansa. We are talking to governments in the region kasi hopefully, either they are just hiding, ayaw magpakita," he said.

"If they are hostages, they are somewhere... maybe in Gaza or brought to another country. We are talking to governments in the region."

The current "immediate concern" is repatriation from Gaza, he added, citing a conversation with Marcos Jr. on Thursday. The President ordered officials to look for other exit options, he said.

"Nobody right now can get in or out of Gaza so repatriation was still not possible at this time unless the humanitarian corridors are open. So this is a diplomatic initiative," he said.

The DFA is also preparing for the opening of the humanitarian corridors in Gaza, he said.

"Our Embassy in Cairo is sending a team to the border. We are providing them funding to be able to rent the necessary transportation to bring them from the border to Cairo and fly them to the Philippines, itong 92 [na gustong umuwi]," he said.

KIN OF NEGRENSE VICTIM WANTS REMAINS REPATRIATED SOON

Anabella, the sister of Israeli caregiver Loreta Alacre, asked the government to repatriate her sibling's remains as soon as possible.

She said another sibling working in Kuwait received a call from the Philippine Embassy that identified her sister among the fatalities. The embassy did not provide additional information, she said.

"Gusto namin na agad na maiuwi ang kanyang bangkay. Sabi ng Philippine Embassy doon na raw i-cremate. Sabi namin, hindi gusto namin iuwi dito ang kanyang bangkay sa Pilipinas," she said.

Anabella said she talked with her sister last Friday, a day before the surprise attack in Israel. Alacre was supposed to attend a music festival, she said.

"A lot of people there were killed attending that music festival, which was usually held during the 'sukkot' which is an Israeli holiday," DFA's De Vega said. "And what we understand was she was one of the attendees, and a lot of people died there."

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DEFENSE DEPT. READY FOR REPATRIATION

In a chance interview, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro said his agency was “ready, willing and able to facilitate repatriation” of Filipinos in Israel.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, meanwhile, said he would push for the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization under the Anti-Terrorism Law.

Israel has massed forces, tanks and other heavy armor around Gaza and called up 300,000 reservists.

In a statement on Thursday the army said it has bombarded Gaza with approximately 6,000 munitions containing a total of 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday when it began striking Hamas targets.

Palestinian officials reported more than 1,350 dead, most of them civilians.

— with a report from Agence France-Presse

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