BACOLOD City – The Alacre family, with a member missing in Israel following the recent Hamas attack, is seeking assistance from Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Loreta Alacre, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Negros, was last seen at the Tribe of Nova music festival near Re’im kibbutz on Oct. 7. The event was marred by a tragic attack from Palestinian group Hamas, leading to roughly 260 casualties. Reports suggest Loreta, along with several attendees, was possibly abducted to the Gaza Strip.
Loreta’s anxious sister, Anabella Alacre, approached the provincial capitol seeking updates. While she remains in the dark about her sister’s fate, she confirmed that Loreta’s employer, Noam Solomon, is also searching for her.
Loreta had been working as a caregiver in Tel Aviv.
The provincial government pledged support to the Alacre family, emphasizing that the main agency dealing with such matters is the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA).
The province has since established a public assistance desk to support the kin of Negrense OFWs in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Details on social media indicate Loreta attended the ill-fated festival with her partner.
Another OFW, Rosalina Diamante, confirmed hearing about the couple’s plans. Initial accounts suggest the duo was ambushed in their car – Loreta was taken, while her boyfriend was injured, later being rescued by Israeli forces.
Bacolod City’s Mayor, Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, mentioned a tourist group from the city narrowly evading the conflict. They left Israel just a day before the attacks commenced. So far, there have been no reports of other Bacolodnons affected.
Recent reports from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the unfortunate demise of two Filipinos during the attack. Another OFW family reported spotting a relative in a video by Hamas. However, the DFA has yet to verify any Filipinos being held by Hamas.
Following the unrest, the DFA raised Alert Level 2 in Israel, essentially limiting Filipino deployments there.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has received 23 repatriation requests, but the process is contingent upon on-ground situations.
It is estimated that over 30,000 Filipinos currently reside and work in Israel, with an additional 137 in the Gaza Strip. (Watchmen Daily Journal, Philippine News Agency)
