by JOEL C. ESCOL, Managing Editor
INTERNATIONAL NEWS – The Philippine Government has already confirmed the deaths of two Filipino workers in Israel — a caregiver from Pampanga and a Filipina nurse in Pangasinan.
Fleur Hassan Nahoum, the mayor of Jerusalem said on television that the Filipina nurse, Angeline Aguirre died in the house of her employer. They were gunned down by Hamas extremist rebels who reportedly gained forced entry into the employer’s house.
“The Filipino workers are very nice people. We mourned the passing of Ms Angeline Aguirre who was brutally killed by Hamas rebel group,” the mayor said.
The caregiver from Pampanga, 42-year-old Paul Vincent Castelvi, was kidnapped by the Hamas rebels and died while in captivity. It was not clear, however, how the Filipino worker died while in the hands of his captures.
Meanwhile, Vice Consul Patricia Narajos said that they are still trying to confirm a third Filipino who also died in Israel during the reported surprise coordinated attacks by Hamas militants. Both Aguirre and Castelvi were killed in Kibbutz, an Israeli community.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr condemned the senseless killings of the Filipino overseas workers during the invasion of Hamas militants that sparked the war between Israeli and Palestinian Forces.
The president said in a statement: “My heart is heavy upon hearing confirmation of the deaths of two Filipinos in Israel. The Philippines condemns these killings and stands firmly against the ongoing terror and violence.”
The president said the government will help the 30,000 Filipinos currently working in Israel, as well as those 137 living in Gaza Strip.
