Hamas' release of Pinoy caregiver boosts hopes to find missing OFW--Romualdez
At A Glance
- House Speaker Martin Romualdez says Hamas' release of its Filipino hostage Gelienor "Jimmy" Pacheco has elevated the Philippines' hopes that it would soon locate missing overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Noralyn Babadilla.
- Pacheco's release came with the start of the four-day truce between Israel and Hamas.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)
Hamas' release of its Filipino hostage Gelienor "Jimmy" Pacheco has increased the Philippines' hopes that it would soon locate a missing overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
House Speaker Martin Romualdez had this to say even as he gave kudos to President Marcos and the Philippine Foreign Service for facilitating Pacheco's release.
"We, in the House of Representatives, are heartened by the news of Filipino hostage Gelienor 'Jimmy' Pacheco's release by Hamas," Romualdez said in a statement Saturday afternoon, Nov. 25.
"Jimmy's liberation, as part of the initial group of 24 freed hostages, ignites our hopes for the prompt discovery of the whereabouts of another missing national, Noralyn Babadilla," added the leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives.
Pacheco's release came with the start of the four-day truce between Israel and Hamas. The hostilities began back in Oct. 7.
"This breakthrough underscores the relentless and dedicated efforts of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr., the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Foreign Service in safeguarding every Filipino amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East," said Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.
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He also extended his gratitude to the State of Qatar for helping in the release of Pacheco, a caregiver.
"Echoing the Philippine Foreign Service's commitment during this distressing period, we, in the House and the national government, vow to persistently engage with international partners and leverage our Middle Eastern assets until every Filipino is safe from the region's turmoil," the House chief further said.