OFW in Israel texted wife to take care of their kids before he went missing

In his last text message to his wife before he went missing in the conflict-torn Israel, Gelienor Pacheco said, "Pinasok na kami, hon, ingatan mo yung mga anak natin."

According to a "24 Oras" report by JP Soriano, Philippine Embassy officials in Tel-Aviv are still confirming if Gelienor was taken by the Hamas.

Gelienor is one of the seven Filipinos in Israel who remains unaccounted for amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Clarice, Gelienor's wife, said she saw in the videos circulating on social media that her husband was one of those abducted by the Hamas.

"Base po sa video, makikita nyo po dun na sinakay po siya tapos hanggang ngayon wala pa ring balita kaya nag-aalala na po kami," she said.

"Sir, President sana po matulungan nyoi po kami na mahanap yung asawa ko. Nagmamakaawa po ako kasi ang hirap po, wala naman po kasalanan yung asawa ko,” she added.

(Based on the video, one can see that he was hauled in a vehicle and until now we have no update about him so we are worried. Sir President, please help us find my husband. I'm begging because it's hard; my husband is not at fault.)

Philippine officials said they are doing all they can to locate the missing OFWs.

“We have to negotiate, for example for the safe return, lalo na neutral naman tayo diyan at hindi tayo talagang kasama dun sa kanilang conflict, so siyempre may mga diplomatic negotiations na mangyayari sa pagitan ng Hamas and the Philippine government,” said Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro "Junie" Laylo.

(We have to negotiate, for example, for the safe return, especially since we are neutral there and not involved in their conflict, so of course, diplomatic negotiations will happen between Hamas and the Philippine government.)

Consul General and Deputy Chief of Mission Anthony Mandap added, "Habang tumatagal na walang komunikasyon lalong tumataas yung risk na maaring patay na yung tao o maaring nasa masamang kalagayan kaya sa lalong madaling panahon makakita kami ng senyales. We keep on looking for signs of life."

Several Filipinos in Israel narrate their experience being caught in the middle of the conflict.

Repuela Torres said she and the Israeli senior citizen under her care hid in a bomb shelter or mamad for 35 hours with just a bottle of water.

"Yun yung time na ni lock ko na yung mamad kaya pinagbabaril po, buti na lang po hindi po nabuksan safe po talaga ni lock ko talaga siya," she said.

(I locked the mamad well.  We were lucky the bullets didn't hit us because we heard shots being fired at the shelter.)

"Nag message na ako sa pamilya ko, sa asawa ako na ang bahay namin pinasok nasa isip ko paano kung i-hostage ako sumagi talaga sa isip ko," she added.

(I sent a message to my family that the Hamas have invaded our house.  The thought of being hostaged crossed my mind.)

When the Hamas fighters have left, Torres went out of the shelter and saw the devastation.  Bullet shells were also scatted on the floor.

Torres was rescued by Philippine Embassy personnel in coordination with the Israel Defense Force.  It was then she found out that she has been declared as one of the missing Filipinos.

"Around 3 p.m, po na rescue ako, ako na lang pala, kami ng alaga ko, ang nasa bus kasi lahat sila ok na sila," she said.

Another Filipina caregiver, Rebecca Sabado, said their home was burned.

"Nakita ko yung sala nasusunog na pala kaya lumabas ako nanghingi ng tulong pero may nakita ako isang Hamas duon na buti na lang hindi ako binaril," she said.

(I saw our living room was burning, so I went out and asked for help.  I saw a Hamas there, but luckily he did not shoot me.)

On Saturday, Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in years, firing rockets and deploying gunmen to several towns, prompting the Israeli government to issue a state of war alert. 

Israel launched retaliatory strikes on Gaza, with the death toll on both sides already in the hundreds and continuing to rise.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv has been closed due to the conflict, but it may still be reached through its emergency number +972-54-4661188, its assistance to nationals number 050-9114017, and its email address telaviv.pe@dfa.gov.ph.

The Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration also opened 24/7 hotlines for OFWs in Israel and their families:

Landline:
+63 2 1348
Viber and WhatsApp:
+63 908 326 8344
+63 927 147 8186
+63 920 517 1059

According to Israel's population and immigration authority of Israel, about 30,000 Filipinos are working or living in Israel.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News