Family looking for Filipina who may have gone to Israel music festival

The family of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) has sought help from the government to find their relative who may have gone to the music festival in Southern Israel with several other FIlipinos.

Thousands of young people attended the music festival, which became one of the first targets of Palestinian gunmen who breached Gaza's border fence early on Saturday.  The attack killed at least 260.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” a relative of Loreta Alacre, 49, went to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) office in Bacolod City to seek assistance.

“Ang last na kwento ng friend niya na naka-survive, sa labas daw ay may mga nagpaputok. Natulala umano siya. Ang mga kasamahan niya nakatas. Ang last raw ay nabihag siya ng Hamas,” said Edchell Alacre Sabanal.

The regional OWWA office said it is waiting for update from its central office.

“We are not in the position to declare that she’s missing. We just received a notification from her family last October 9, Monday. Then we have endorsed it to our welfare officer in Israel,” said Aldia Grace Buni, Labor Communication Officer of OWWA-Region VI.

Alacre’s family said they are hoping the OFW is safe amid the continuous attacks of the Hamas militant group in Israel.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News