Marcos condoles with kin of 3rd Filipino fatality in Israel-Hamas war By GMA Integrated News

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has expressed condolences to the family of Loreta "Lorie" Villarin Alacre, the third Filipino who was killed in the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. During the phone call on Sunday with Alacre's sister, Marcos guaranteed the victim's relatives and loved ones that necessary assistance would be given to them. He also promised that Alacre's remains would be brought home. "May assistance para sa pamilya, pero lahat ng kailangang gawin para maiuwi na (ang iyong kapatid) ay gagawin na muna namin. Iyon lamang, hinihintay muna natin kung ano ‘yung magiging sitwasyon doon sa Israel dahil talagang napakagulo masyado ngayon at sarado lahat," Marcos told Alacre's sister. (There will be assistance for the family but we will do first the things we need to do to bring home the remains. We're just monitoring the situation in Israel because it's really chaotic there at present.) "Tulungan ka namin. Basta’t nandito ang gobyerno. Lahat ng mga embassy natin naka-alert naman, alam nila ang sitwasyon mo... lahat nga gusto nang umuwi kaya 'yun na muna ang inayos namin at basta't mabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon ay iuuwi na namin silang lahat," he added. (We will help you. The government is here. All the embassies have been alerted. All Filipinos really want to go home so we're fixing that first.) Alacre, a 49-year-old caregiver, was among the Filipinos earlier reported missing when Hamas attacked Israel. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed and has already notified Alacre's family on Friday that the victim, who has been working as a caregiver in Haifa and Tel Aviv, was killed. The other two Filipino fatalities have been identified as Angeline Aguirre, a nurse, and Paul Vincent Castelvi, a 42-year-old caregiver. Marcos said the Philippine Embassy in Egypt is already waiting for the positive feedback for possible opening of a humanitarian corridor so that the government can start repatriating the affected Filipinos. The President also said the airport in Tel Aviv is still operating but not yet allowing refugees. He said the Philippine government is coordinating efforts with the Israeli government to allow the repatriation of affected Filipinos. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News

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