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Headline
Pinoy feared succumed in Israel
By Nidz Godino
"No confirmation yet, embassy contacted sister…fearful and distraught," referring to identity of remains, which reportedly were already in advanced state of decomposition. An official said.
A Filipino may have been one of the casualties in attacks on Israel by militant Hamas group, Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv said citing discovery by Israeli authorities of human remains with Asian features.
Embassy official said DNA test on the body would be made to determine if it is of female caregiver who according to family member has been missing since outbreak of violence.
Leaders of Filipino community in Israel alerted embassy to discovery of remains.
Embassy officials are in contact with missing caregiver's sister, who was among 23 Filipinos rescued from Hamas militants.
Embassy has dispatched team to provide assistance to evacuated Filipinos housed in hotels as well as to check hospitals where some Filipinos may have been taken.
Embassy is "deeply grateful to Israeli security forces risking their lives to rescue our kababayan caught in combat areas, as well as to Israeli emergency services and kibbutz authorities who included Filipino nationals in their evacuation operations."
Ambassador Pedro Laylo Jr. said in interview with media embassy received report on death of Filipino Monday night.
"We received report Monday night that there had been Filipino casualty…so first thing in the morning our labor attaché will verify if caregiver had died," Laylo said.
Verification of reports received by embassy, he said, usually takes time, as it has to rely only on Israeli authorities for information.
As to date six Filipinos all caregivers remain unaccounted for, including reported fatality. They were working in communities near Gaza border. Whereabouts of an agro-student, seventh reported missing on Monday, had already been established.
Although there is no end in sight to violence in Israel and Gaza Strip, Marcos administration is not imposing ban on travel to Jewish state but is advising Filipinos to defer their trip.
"We haven't put travel ban on Israel... but our embassy has issued travel advisory, so as much as possible, avoid traveling right now, we are not telling you not to go…but we are advising you that it's best, if possible, to postpone them until we are absolutely sure hostilities have ended because, after all, even Prime Minister of Israel has said we are in state of war… not normal for somebody who wants to visit a country, in state of war," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said at Palace press briefing .
De Vega said some tourists who visited Israel recently had difficulties returning home.
Last Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his country is in state of war in response to surprise attack by Hamas that left hundreds of people dead. Hostilities between Israeli forces and Hamas militants have claimed lives of more than 1,000 people, according to latest reports.
Because of conflict, several airlines in Asia have canceled their flights to Tel Aviv. Airlines include Hainan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Korean Air, according to Presidential Communications Office. More than 19,000 Filipinos visited Israel in first half of the year. According to records of Israel's Population and Immigration Authority, there are about 30,000 Filipinos in Israel.
At the same press briefing, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said government has not banned deployment of workers to Israel.
"Right now, what's proceeding is deployment of hotel workers... it takes alert level three to hold deployment, alert level two for new hires and alert level three for all types of workers. So, we are not yet in alert level two, technically we do not have deployment ban, again, situation we are in is that we have government-to-government hiring arrangement with our Israeli counterparts… it's two-way street... we have to be well-coordinated with our Israeli labor and immigration counterparts before we even proceed,.. even if there is no ban," Cacdac said.
Philippine embassy in Amman, Jordan, for its part has recommended raising repatriation alert to level three in Gaza Strip. Level three allows voluntary repatriation.
Cacdac noted alert level three is declared if situation in an area has worsened but there is still order in that country. .. embassy in Amman has jurisdiction over Gaza Strip. "This will be cleared with the President," Cacdac said.
Asked why not alert level four or mandatory repatriation, DFA's De Vega replied: "Because this is situation which sadly is kind of regular thing."
Gaza Strip is home to about 137 Filipinos, many of whom are spouses of Palestinians. De Vega said 38 Filipinos from Gaza Strip have requested for repatriation.
"It voluntary repatriation is not yet announced as final…but we are going by that, it is like de facto already even if it is not yet officially signed or announced by the President,..we could say it's on voluntary repatriation already and the only issue is, well….how to repatriate them, because that is what we are working on diplomatically, ..there are exit points both to Israel or through Egypt which are heavily guarded by both Egypt or Israel…. there are measures now being undertaken so that we could hopefully bring them home as soon as possible… right now, no casualties among Filipinos in Gaza," De Vega said.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration administrator Arnell Ignacio, for his part, said his agency is working with foreign affairs and migrant workers departments to provide needs of Filipinos affected by conflict.
Ignacio said government is very careful about relaying information to media, as unverified reports could spark panic and unnecessary fear.
"And we'd like to appeal to our countrymen, each time that you make transmission from where you are, it can jeopardize your situation; you may be traced," he said.
At press briefing in Australia, DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo reiterated country's support for Israel's right to self-defense.
"We have already issued statements condemning the events, especially targeting of civilians, and we've also recognized right to self-defense of Israel in accordance with United Nations Charter," Manalo said.
Upon invitation of his counterpart Penny Wong and Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, Manalo and Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual are in Australia to jointly preside over 6th Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM) in Adelaide, South Australia.
In statement, Sen. Bong Go said government should take immediate action to account for missing Filipinos in Israel.
"I call upon all relevant agencies to work hand in hand in this endeavor…let us set aside bureaucracy and focus on immediate action... lives are at stake here, let's protect lives of every Filipino wherever they are in the world, especially those we consider modern-day heroes, OFWs who work to provide for their families left behind," Go, vice chair of Senate committee on migrant workers said.
He added there should also be plan for their immediate repatriation.
"Safety of our kababayans is paramount… I urge DMW, DFA and POEA to act swiftly and ensure every Filipino worker is accounted for," said Go.
Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos, vice chairman of Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI), has called on Filipinos to "keep themselves safe, follow our government instructions and pray with us for peace and harmony."
"It is urgent and necessary that we pray and hope for peace…peace is what our world needs," he added.
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