Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Monday said that his agency has already coordinated with the husband of Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera, the Filipina caregiver who was killed amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Cacdac said the government will be providing financial and burial assistance to De Vera’s family, as well as helping for the repatriation of her remains to the Philippines.
"As I said the husband is in Israel. So, we will for the appropriate time na mapauwi iyong labi ni OFW Mary Ann. But, we’re in good hands kasi nga as I said, the Israeli government is fully backing as in this endeavors," Cacdac said during the Palace press briefing.
"So, in due time OFW Mary Ann, will be home safely, but in the meantime, we sent our teams already to Pangasinan for the family. And then, our teams naman also in Tel Aviv are—with handholding the husband through this difficult process," the DMW chief added.
In a statement, the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines expressed condolences to the family of De Vera, who died after sustaining injuries in an Iranian airstrike on Tel Aviv on 28 February.
The 32-year-old caregiver from Basista, Pangasinan assisting her patient to safety when the incident occured.
The embassy added that De Vera was identified by her husband, who is also an overseas Filipino worker in Israel, and their family.
"Israel joins in the profound sorrow of her family and the Filipino community. We mourn together and honor Mary Ann’s memory with dignity and respect," it said.