'All Pinoys trapped in Israel-Hamas war safe'

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday announced that all Filipinos affected by the war between Israel and the Hamas militant group have all been «accounted for» following the release of Noralyn Babadilla.

In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Marcos said Babadilla, who was taken hostage by the Hamas group, is now 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.

«With this positive development, I am pleased to inform the nation that all Filipinos affected by the war have been accounted for,» he added.

He said he instructed officials at the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv to attend to Noralyn's needs in coordination with Israeli authorities, whom he thanked for facilitating the Filipino worker's release and for assisting 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.

Babadilla and Pacheco were among the foreigners the Hamas militants abducted on October 7.

The President has 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.

PH grateful to Israel

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), thanked Israel for agreeing to the conditions that helped facilitate 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 their assistance they have provided our nationals in Israel,» the DFA said in a statement.

«We acknowledge and appreciate the mediation efforts of the State of Qatar that led to the release of Ms Babadilla, and previously of Mr. [Gelienor] Jimmy Pacheco,» the DFA said.

The Philippine government also