Pinoy among 24 freed hostages

Filipino caregiver Gelienor "Jimmy" Leano Pacheco was among the 24 hostages, who included 13 Israelis and 10 Thais, handed over late Friday to the Red Cross in Gaza by terror group Hamas, Qatar, which mediated the deal said.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that 39 Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli jails were also freed in an exchange deal with Hamas.

With the release of Pacheco, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government's attention now turns to ensuring the safety of another Filipino national, Noralyn Babadilla, who is also reportedly being held hostage by the Hamas terror group.

He said the government will spare no effort to ensure Babadilla's release. Babadilla was one of those previously tagged as missing or unaccounted for.

Qatar has led weeks of intense negotiations, coordinating with the US and Egypt, to reach an agreement to free 50 civilian hostages from Gaza in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners, a four-day truce, and access to humanitarian aid. 

A source with knowledge of the talks confirmed the 10 Thais and one Filipino freed were in addition to the 50 Israeli hostages earmarked for release. 

Their release was secured "following the Thai foreign minister's visit to Qatar and mediation efforts by the Qataris and Egyptians," the source said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. 

The number of hostages due to be freed under the deal staggered over the four-day truce, is by far the largest since Hamas gunmen stormed across Israel's border on 7 October and carried out the deadliest attack in Israel's history.

Israel said the attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw around 240 more taken hostage, among them elderly people and children. 

In response, Israel launched a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which the terror group's government said has killed more than 15,000 people, thousands of them children.

Qatar has said the initial four-day truce will be extended if further hostage and prisoner exchanges can be secured.

The Israeli Embassy in Manila confirmed on Saturday that 33-year-old Pacheco, a father of three, is undergoing medical evaluations at Shamir Medical Center, the fourth-largest government hospital in Israel situated in the city of Be'er Ya'akov.

Pacheco was captured by Hamas when it attacked Kibbutz Nir Oz, situated three kilometers from the Gaza border. He was caring for Amitai Ben Zvi, 80.

The 24 hostages freed were the initial batch of the over two hundred seized by Hamas.

The release came on the first day of the four-day ceasefire in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The Israeli Embassy in Manila expressed relief over the release of  Pacheco.

Pacheco was handed over to senior representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Ambassador to Israel Junie Laylo.

"This is the fruit of all the diplomatic representations that have been undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs under the guidance of the President," the DFA said in a statement.

The DFA appreciated Qatar's efforts that led to Pacheco's freedom. It also thanked the Israeli government for the assistance extended to Pacheco and his family.

President 'overjoyed'

President Marcos said he was overjoyed to confirm the release of Pacheco.

He lauded the DFA and thanked the State of Qatar for its vital role in ensuring Pacheco's release.

"I salute the work of the Philippine Foreign Service in securing his release, and once again thank the State of Qatar for their invaluable assistance in making Jimmy's release possible," Marcos said.

"We remain concerned over the whereabouts of our other national, Ms. Noralyn Babadilla, and are sparing no effort to locate and secure her if she is indeed found to be one of the hostages," he said.

Faith in the Lord

"We pray for the continued success of the truce and for all hostages to be released," he added.

Marcos assured the Filipinos in Israel and their loved ones in the Philippines that the government would continue to monitor the situation in the war zone and coordinate with international counterparts to ensure their welfare and safety.

In a heartfelt exchange with the Philippine Embassy, Pacheco revealed the sources of his unwavering strength during his harrowing ordeal. "I am only alive because of the Lord. Even on the day they abducted me, I was really thinking about my family. While I was in Gaza, I just wanted to live for my family," the 33-year-old caregiver shared with Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo Jr., upon his arrival at the Shamir Medical Center near Tel Aviv.

While at the medical center, Pacheco connected with his wife, Clarice Joy, bringing a bittersweet moment of relief and reunion.

Ambassador Laylo assured Pacheco of the Embassy's unwavering support for all his immediate needs, emphasizing the solidarity of the Filipino nation in celebrating his release.

"The Filipino nation shares the joy of Israeli and Thai families now receiving this good news. We continue to pray for the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza," Ambassador Laylo said.

Clarice Joy also took to Facebook a photo of her husband and his Israeli employers, Sir Ido and Sir Gilad.

"They never left him, nor us, their whole family in this battle! Thank you so much, Lord. Such blessings and a big miracle to have your second life. Big thanks to all! Let's pray for the swift release of all remaining hostages. I empathize with their families; it's not an easy journey. Just keep fighting," Clarice Joy's post read.

The International Red Cross late Friday started the delicate operation for the exchange of the hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The 24 hostages were evacuated from Gaza and handed over to Egyptian authorities and staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross or ICRC at the Rafah border crossing.

"The deep pain that family members separated from their loved ones feel is indescribable. We are relieved that some will be reunited after the long agony," said Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the ICRC in the Near and Middle East.

Bong Go calls for support

Meanwhile, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has reiterated the urgency of providing repatriation support and, eventually, more sustainable and comprehensive reintegration services for overseas Filipino workers returning from Israel and Lebanon, in light of the ongoing crisis in the region.

Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, emphasized that the safety and welfare of OFWs must be prioritized during such global crises when they are forced to leave their jobs and return home.

In an interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday, when 42 OFWs from conflict areas were set to return to the Philippines, the senator particularly stressed the need for a comprehensive and sustainable reintegration program to cater to the needs of returning OFWs.

With Gilmore LeaÑo