By Liezelle Soriano
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Thursday that another Filipino was killed in an attack by the militant group Hamas in Israel.
However, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo did not disclose the name of the fourth victim as a solemn plea by the family not to reveal the identity of the victim.
“Out of respect for the wishes of the family, we shall be withholding details on the identity of the victim. But we have assured the family of the government’s full support and assistance,” Manalo said in a post.
In a radio interview on Thursday, DFA Undersecretary Ed de Vega said that the fourth Filipino victim in Israel was a caregiver.
He was one of the three Filipinos who were reported missing when Hamas attacked on October 7 from Gaza.
The other three Filipinos who died in the Hamas attack were Angeline Aguirre, a nurse; Paul Vincent Castelvi, a caregiver, and Loreta Alacre, who was also a caregiver.
About 30,000 Filipinos are working in Israel, mostly caregivers and nurses.
An estimated 135 Filipinos are believed to be trapped in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. (ai/mnm)