(UPDATE) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday that all Filipinos affected by the war between Israel and the Hamas militant group have now been “accounted for” following the release of Noralyn Babadilla.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Marcos expressed his relief, stating that Babadilla, who was taken hostage by the Hamas group, is now safely in Israel.
“Just days after expressing concern for Noralyn Babadilla’s whereabouts, I am very happy to announce that she is safely back in Israel, becoming the second Filipino released from Gaza,” he said.
Marcos further emphasized, “With this positive development, I am pleased to inform the nation that all Filipinos affected by the war have been accounted for.”
The President commended the officials at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv for attending to Noralyn’s needs in coordination with Israeli authorities. He also expressed gratitude towards Israel for facilitating the release of the Filipino worker and for their assistance to Filipinos in Israel.
“Our gratitude also goes to Egypt and the State of Qatar for their crucial role in this process over the past several weeks,” Marcos added.
Babadilla’s freedom came a few days after Marcos confirmed the release of Filipino Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco, who was also abducted by Hamas militants on October 7.
Marcos assured Filipinos in Israel and their loved ones in the Philippines that the government will continue monitoring the situation in the war-torn areas and coordinate with international counterparts to ensure their welfare and safety.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed gratitude to Israel for agreeing to the conditions that facilitated the release of Filipino hostages.
“We extend our sincere thanks to the State of Israel for agreeing to the conditions which facilitated the release of more hostages, including Ms. Babadilla, and for all the assistance they have provided our nationals in Israel,” the DFA said in a statement.
The DFA also acknowledged and appreciated the mediation efforts of the State of Qatar, which led to the release of Babadilla and previously, Pacheco. The Philippine government also recognized the support and participation of Egypt, as well as the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) and other international organizations in the process.
“We remain committed to looking after the welfare of Filipinos affected by the ongoing conflict and share the hope for the eventual cessation of all hostilities in the region,” the DFA stated.
The DFA reported that four Filipinos were killed during the October 7 Hamas attack on an Israeli community. As of November 29, a total of 111 Filipinos have been evacuated from Gaza, with 26 Filipinos still remaining in the area.
With a report from Bernadette E. Tamayo
Source: The Manila Times
