Freed OFW seen back home before end Dec – OWWA

A FILIPINO freed by Hamas militants in Gaza Strip on Friday is expected to be repatriated before the end of December, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said yesterday.

Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco was working as a caregiver for five years in Israel before the Hamas took him and over 200 others when it attacked Israel on October 7. Pacheco was among 24 captives freed by Hamas on Friday as part of a truce and prisoner swap with Israel. He is now is in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Israel.

More than half of the estimated 240 hostages have foreign passports from at least 25 countries. Freed with Pacheco were 13 Israelis and 10 Thai farm workers.

“According to OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio, he is likely to be able to return to the country before the end of December,” OWWA said in a social media post.

OWWA did not give details.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Saturday assured Pacheco and his family of financial and livelihood assistance.

The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it is working to locate the remaining Filipino who went missing after the Hamas attack.

“Still hoping for the best. We are working on it,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said in mixed Filipino and English.

De Vega said there is “no definite confirmation that she is a hostage.”

President Marcos Jr. on Saturday said government is continuing its efforts to locate Noralyn Babadilla and determine if she was among the Hamas captives.

Prior to Pacheco’s release, De Vega said the two missing Filipinos, and possibly among the captives, includes a man who was seen by his wife in a video forcibly taken on October7 and a woman who has a dual citizenship.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen visited Pacheco at the Yitzhak Shamir Medical Center where he is recovering, Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr. said Sunday.

“Foreign Minister Cohen said that it is a happy day for Israel and the Philippines. He added that Israel “exerted all effort and we are here for you,” Laylo said, quoting Cohen.

Laylo said he conveyed Manila’s gratitude to Israel for facilitating the release of the hostages, including Pacheco.

He added the Israeli