Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) — Officials said on Monday they are verifying reports that Hamas militants took a Filipino to their side, while two others were injured and seven are missing in Israel amid the full-blown war.
The Immigration Bureau said in a separate statement it is ready to provide assistance to Filipinos returning home from the conflict.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said a Filipino woman reached out to the Philippine embassy in Israel and said she recognized her husband in a video on social media. It shows a man held at gunpoint, and likely brought to the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory bordering Israel under Hamas control.
“Post urgently relayed this to the Israel military authorities. Post cannot independently verify his identity based on the video alone but considers the report of the wife as important. We are also working with community contacts on his case,” the DFA said.
Some news aggregators on Saturday posted photos and videos of men, among them supposedly Filipinos, held at gunpoint.
Injured, missing Pinoys
Officials said of the 29 missing Filipinos, 22 were rescued by Israeli security forces including two injured. Seven could not be accounted for.
DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said the seven missing “cannot be contacted via their mobile number and social media accounts.”
“The embassy is working non-stop with Israeli security authorities and community contacts to ascertain their condition,” the DFA said.
OWWA data sent to CNN Philippines named five of the missing seven: Grace Cabrera, Shelly Morillo, Norilyn Babadilla, Gallenor Leandro Pacheco, and Loreta Alacre.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ New Day, Anthony Mandap, Philippine embassy deputy chief of mission, said a Filipino was shot during an Israeli defense force rescue operation from a shelter. Another was a case of suffocation after attackers burned the house of a Filipino and her employer.
“There could be more so we’re still investigating this,” he said, adding there are no reported deaths among the more than 30,000 Filipinos working and living in Israel.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Arnell Ignacio identified the shooting victim as Joey Pasolingan from San Carlos, Pangasinan. The official told CNN Philippines’ The Source that Pasolingan is recovering in a hospital.
Mandap said the situation has subsided compared to the past days “when it was raining rockets practically all day.”
“But again, the situation is still tense, there is a lot of uncertainty, there could still be incidents of terrorism happening in public places,” he added.
Mandap said it would be better to stay indoors for now, and advised Filipinos to stay close to bomb shelters.
The DFA said 25 Filipinos in Gaza want to be repatriated, while there are no requests yet from those in Israel.
Ignacio said the government is ready to bring Filipinos home as soon as they get clearance from the Israeli side.
In a separate statement, the Bureau of Immigration said it will work with the Foreign Affairs and Migrant Workers departments on the schedules of possible repatriation.
“Should they come in special flights, we will have a dedicated team process their documents immediately upon arrival,” Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.
The Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv resumed operations on Monday. People with urgent concerns may contact +972-54-4661188 / +972-50-911-4017.
“Should they come in special flights, we will have a dedicated team process their documents immediately upon arrival,” Tansingco said.
