Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) – The remains of one of four Filipinos killed in the Israel-Hamas war were repatriated on Saturday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.
The body of the 49-year-old caregiver was the first to be returned to the country out of four Filipinos who were confirmed to have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict that began on Oct. 7.
READ: DFA confirms 3rd Filipino fatality in Israel-Hamas war
The slain woman was the third Filipino confirmed to have perished during the bloody clash. DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said she was killed because she refused to abandon her elderly Israeli employer amid the unrest.
\”Ipinakita ng ating dakilang OFW [overseas Filipino worker] yung kabayanihan niya kasi ipinagtanggol niya at hindi iniwanan yung kanyang elderly na Israel employer,\” Olalia told the media.
\”Sinamahan niya kahit na meron siyang pagkakataon na umalis,\” he also said. \”Naabutan sila ng mga terorista at yun nga sa kasamaang palad, isa siya sa napatay.\”
[Translation: Our OFW showed her heroism because she did not leave her elderly Israeli employer. She stayed with them even though she had a chance to leave. Terrorists caught up with them and she was killed.]
Her remains will be brought to Negros Occidental, where her bereaved family resides.
The DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said they would provide financial aid for the bereaved family.
The remains of three other Filipinos are still in the war-torn nation waiting to be flown home.
Meanwhile, 34 Filipinos have been repatriated to the Philippines from Israel, while no Pinoys in the Gaza Strip have been able to leave the Palestinian enclave, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The DFA has also raised Alert Level 3 in Lebanon, meaning voluntary repatriation for Filipinos there as tensions grow between Israel and Hezbollah.
