Marcos: Last missing Filipino amid Israel-Hamas war released

Noralyn Babadilla, the last unaccounted Filipino amid the Israel-Hamas war, has been released from Gaza, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday.

"Just days after expressing concern for Noralyn Babadilla's whereabouts, I am very happy to announce that Noralyn is safely back in Israel, becoming the second Filipino released from Gaza," Marcos said on X (formerly Twitter).

Babadilla, who was unaccounted for following the October 7 surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, was freed by the Palestinian militant group, according to Marcos.

"With this positive development, I am pleased to inform the nation that all Filipinos affected by the war have been accounted for," the President said.

Marcos said he instructed the officials of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv to provide Babadilla's needs in coordination with Israeli authorities.

He thanked Israeli authorities for their assistance to Filipinos in Israel, as well as the Egypt and Qatar governments for their role in the exchange of hostages between Israel and Hamas.

In a separate statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed Babadilla's release as it expressed appreciation to the mediation efforts of Qatar that led to the release. 

The DFA also thanked Israel "for agreeing to the conditions which facilitated the release of more hostages including Ms Babadilla, and for all their assistance they have provided our nationals in Israel."

"We also recognize the support and participation of Egypt as well as the ICRC and other international organizations in the process," it added, referring to the International Committee of the Red Cross. 

2nd to be released

Babadilla was freed days after another Filipino who was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza,  Jimmy Pacheco, was released and returned safely to Israel.

According to the DFA, Pacheco was unaware of any fellow Filipino hostage by Hamas during his captivity.

On November 24, Friday, Israel and Hamas started a four-day ceasefire with an agreement of releasing their hostages. The truce has been extended for two days.

Egypt and Qatar have been serving as mediators between Hamas and Israel.

Israel has been bombing targets across the Gaza Strip since Hamas fighters carried out an unprecedented deadly attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7.

Hamas' attack killed 1,200 people and 240 were held hostage in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Meanwhile, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run government. 

The truce agreed last week was the first halt in fighting in the seven weeks since Hamas attacked Israel. It also allowed for aid trucks to enter Gaza.

Wide areas of the enclave have been flattened by Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments, and a humanitarian crisis has unfolded as supplies of food, fuel, drinking water and medicine run out.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the extension of the truce as "a glimpse of hope and humanity," but said two days was not enough time to meet Gaza's aid needs.

"I strongly hope that this will enable us to increase even more the humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza that (are) suffering so much - knowing that even with that additional amount of time, it will be impossible to satisfy all the dramatic needs of the population," Guterres told reporters. —with Joviland Rita and Reuters/KBK, GMA Integrated News