The last Filipino hostage held by Hamas has been released, as announced by President Marcos yesterday. He confirmed that all Philippine nationals affected by the October 7th attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group have now been accounted for.
“Just days after expressing concern for Noralyn Babadilla’s whereabouts, I am very happy to announce that Noralyn is safely back in Israel, becoming the second Filipino released from Gaza,” the President stated on his official X account.
The Israeli embassy also confirmed Noralyn Babadilla’s release from Gaza, marking a positive turn of events. President Marcos expressed his satisfaction, saying, “With this positive development, I am pleased to inform the nation that all Filipinos affected by the war have been accounted for.”
Currently, Noralyn Babadilla is undergoing a medical evaluation at Tel HaShomer Hospital in Israel to ensure her well-being. The caregiver and her partner, Gideon Babani, had visited close friends in Kibbutz Nirim on October 7th. Tragically, Babani was murdered by Hamas terrorists, while Babadilla was taken captive for 53 days.
President Marcos has instructed Philippine embassy officials in Tel Aviv to attend to Babadilla’s needs in coordination with Israeli authorities. He extended gratitude to Israeli authorities for facilitating her release and for ongoing assistance to Filipinos in Israel. Additionally, he thanked the governments of Egypt and Qatar for their crucial role in the process over the past several weeks.
Following her release, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured Babadilla of full support and assistance upon her return to the country. DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac emphasized the agency’s resilience and dedication to providing care and assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) acknowledged and appreciated the mediation efforts of the State of Qatar, which led to the release of Ms. Babadilla, and previously of Mr. Jimmy Pacheco. The DFA also recognized the support and participation of Egypt, the 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.
Both Noralyn Babadilla and Jimmy Pacheco will receive support from the Israeli government designated for all victims of terror.
Meanwhile, 36 more overseas Filipino workers are returning home from war-torn Israel today. The DMW reported that the 10th batch of returnees, comprising 32 caregivers and four hotel workers, is arriving on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 731 at 6:30 p.m.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
