By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Negros Occidental, is now included as one of the more than 1,000 fatalities in the conflict between the Palestinian military group Hamas and Israel.
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. in a statement yesterday confirmed the death of 49-year-old Loreta Alacre of Barangay Cadiz Viejo.
“We, the Cadiznons, mourn the death of our fellow Cadizeno, as one among the Filipino fatalities in the ongoing war between the Israeli forces and Hamas rebels along Gaza Strip,” Escalante said.
Alacre was attending a music festival near the boundary of the Gaza Strip on October 7, when she was reported missing the following day, following an attack of Hamas militants over the weekend.
Alacre’s employer Noam Solomon, posted on Facebook a collage of Alacre’s photos with a text “Please help find my Lorie.”
Alacre had been working as a caregiver in Haifa and Tel Aviv for 15 years.
Escalante said the City Government of Cadiz is beyond willing to assist the Alacre family in their moment of grief.
Also, we will coordinate with the provincial government of Negros Occidental for the “oneness” of our efforts in helping the bereaved family, especially for the return of Loreta’s remains here in Sitio Camay-an, Barangay Cadiz Viejo, Escalante said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has also confirmed the Negrense’s death, who was listed as the third Filipino killed in the ongoing war.
“I regret to inform you that yes, it is confirmed there is a third Filipino casualty, a 49-year-old from Negros Occidental,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a Palace briefing.
The two other fatalities were from Pangasinan, and Pampanga. According to a recent report from the DFA, there are three Filipinos who are still missing.
On the other hand, Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez has also ordered to monitor if there are OFWs from Bacolod who are working in Israel.
Benitez said the local government is willing to extend help if there are Bacolodnons who may need assistance.
De Vega said the family is already aware of the death and the Philippine Embassy in Israel is in talks with the woman’s siblings residing in Kuwait.
The embassy earlier announced two Filipinos were killed in the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
He said three other Filipinos remained missing nearly a week since the surprise assault by Hamas and Israeli’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.
There are some 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, mostly working as caregivers, officials earlier said.
The Philippine government said they are now preparing the flights for the repatriation of affected OFWs in Israel.
Meanwhile, two Negros Occidental officials committed to help the Alacre family.
“We will assist the family for the repatriation of the remains of the casualty,” Representative Alfredo Marañon III told Daily Guardian here Friday.
Escalante said the city government of Cadiz is “more than willing to assist the Alacre family in their moment of grief.”
“We will coordinate with the provincial government of Negros Occidental for the ‘oneness’ of our efforts in helping the bereaved family, especially for the return of Loreta’s remains here in Sitio Camay-an, Brgy. Cadiz Viejo.” (With a report from Dolly Yasa)
