The tenth group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) repatriated from conflict-ridden Israel safely arrived in the Philippines on Thursday night.
Over 30 OFWs, including caregivers and hotel staff, landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, as reported by JP Soriano on “24 Oras.”
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration extended a repatriation assistance package of P50,000 to each returning Filipino worker to address their families’ needs and support a seamless transition back to their daily lives.
Meanwhile, Gelienor Jimmy Pacheco and Noralyn Babadilla, the two hostages recently released from Hamas captivity, are currently in Israel. Officials from the Philippine Embassy visited them earlier.
On Thursday, Israel and Hamas reached a last-minute agreement to extend their ceasefire for a seventh day. Mediators are actively engaged in discussions to further extend the truce, aiming to secure the release of additional hostages and facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza, as reported by Reuters.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, based in Gaza, began on October 7 when the Palestinian Islamist group initiated lethal attacks on southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 casualties and over 200 hostages.
Over 30 OFWs from Israel return home
In response, Israel carried out airstrikes and later launched a ground offensive in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Philippine government is closely monitoring the well-being of 17 Filipino seafarers who were held captive by the Yemeni rebel group Houthi after seizing a cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.
In response to the “important developments” in the hostage incident, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has canceled his scheduled trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for COP28 on Friday, December 1. In his stead, Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga has been directed to lead the Philippine delegation to COP28.
“Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, with the aim of providing necessary assistance to our seafarers,” Marcos said.
The Houthi group is considered a rebel faction in Yemen. While some nations, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and others, designate them as terrorist organization, there isn’t a universal consensus on this classification.
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