DMW: Remains of one Pinoy fatality in Hamas attacks to be cremated

The remains of one of the two Filipinos who died amid the attack of Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel will be cremated, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Friday.

Interviewed on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita, DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said it was the decision of the family.

“Iyong isa I think inanunsyo na rin ng pamilya sa kanilang interview na cremation ang option. So iyong isa lamang ang aasikasuhin na labi na iuuwi,” he said.

(One of the relatives announced that they opted for cremation. For the other, we are already processing the repatriation of the body.)

“Pino-process na po ito at hindi na rin po magtatagal ay makakauwi at least iyong isa nating mahal na OFW na nasawi,” he added.

(We are already processing it and the remains will be flown home soon.)

The two fatalities have been identified as Angeline Aguirre, a nurse, and Paul Vincent Castelvi, a 42-year-old caregiver.

Aguirre was killed after she chose to stay with her elderly patient as gunmen shot up a bomb shelter in Israel.

Castelvi, meanwhile, was planning to return to the Philippines for the holidays to surprise his mother.

Meanwhile, Cacdac said 22 Pinoys including 19 caregivers and three hotel workers in Israel have requested repatriation so far.

In Gaza, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said around 70 Pinoys have requested to be repatriated.

But De Vega said Gaza is under a blockade and they are already working to have humanitarian corridors that will allow the Filipinos to exit.

The Philippines on Thursday placed Gaza under Alert Level 3 amid the ongoing reprisal strikes by Israel, the DFA said.

Alert Level 3 means voluntary repatriation.

According to the DFA, there are 137 Filipinos in Gaza.

Alert Level 2, meanwhile, is raised over Israel, which is home to at least 30,000 Filipino workers, most of them caregivers.

Alert Level 2 entails restriction of non-essential movements, avoiding places of protest, and preparation for possible evacuation.

Hamas militants carried out their deadliest attack in Israel's history on Saturday, when gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns, killing more than 1,000 people and taking scores of hostages to Gaza.

Israel has retaliated with air strikes on Gaza that have razed entire districts as it prepares for a possible ground offensive. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News