• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negrense caregiver Loreta Villarin Alacre, 49, is the latest confirmed Filipino fatality in the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Hamas militant group.
Annabella Alacre said the death of her younger sister, who has been working as a caregiver in Haifa and Tel Aviv, Israel for 15 years, was relayed to her yesterday by the Philippine Embassy. Loreta was among the party revelers attending the Supernova Music Festival outside the Re’im Kibbutz, near the Gaza Strip when it was attacked by Hamas fighters last week.
Annabella, however, said there are no details yet on the circumstances of the death of her sister.
She added that Loreta, who is from Sitio Camay-an, Barangay Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, has been serving as the “breadwinner” of their family, following the death of their parents.
She also financed the education of their nephews and nieces.
As facilitated by Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, Annabella said she was able to talk to Undersecretary Hans Cacdac, officer-in-charge of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), who assured her that the DMW will extend utmost support to their family, including educational and livelihood assistance.
In an interview over a radio program hosted by Gasataya, Cacdac reiterated his assurance of support to the loved ones left behind by Alacre and other overseas Filipino workers killed in Israel as instructed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Annabella said they are also seeking the help of the government in bringing the remains of her sister back to the Philippines for burial in Cadiz City.
Cacdac said they are now coordinating with the Israeli government for the repatriation arrangements.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. also assured assistance to the family of Alacre.
“We, Cadiznons, mourn the death of our fellow Cadizeño, Loreta Alacre, of Barangay Cadiz Viejo,as one among the Filipino fatalities in the ongoing war between the Israeli forces and Hamas rebels along the Gaza Strip,” the mayor said in a statement.
He added that the “city government of Cadiz, therefore, is beyond willing to assist the Alacre family in their moment of grief”.
Escalante said they will coordinate with the provincial government of Negros Occidental for the “oneness” of their efforts in helping the Alacre family, especially for the return of Loreta’s remains to Cadiz City.
Lacson said the provincial government of Negros Occidental has a Migrant Resource Center at the third floor of Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City to assist Negrenses seeking help for the repatriation of their family members in Israel.
Records of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Western Visayas showed there are 231 OFWs from Negros Occidental working in Israel. | GB
