Pinoy hostage released by Hamas now back in Israel

The Filipino hostage released by Hamas is now back in Israel and undergoing medical evaluation at a hospital, the Israeli Embassy in Manila said on Saturday.

He has been identified by the embassy as Jimmy Pacheco.

"The Israeli Embassy in Manila expresses its relief upon the release of Mr. Jimmy Pacheco from captivity by Hamas," it said.

"Jimmy is undergoing medical evaluations at Shamir Medical Center to ensure his well-being. Senior representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside Philippine Ambassador to Israel Junie Laylo, welcomed him," the embassy added.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain for the safe release of the 200+ hostages still held in captivity by the terror organization Hamas," it said.

"The Israeli government is committed and will do whatever is needed to bring them back home," the embassy added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also confirmed Pacheco's release and said he was overjoyed at the development.

“I am overjoyed to confirm that a Filipino, Mr. Gelienor 'Jimmy' Pacheco, was among the first group of 24 hostages released by the Hamas yesterday,” Marcos said in a post on X [formerly Twitter] on Saturday.

Marcos said Pacheco is now in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Israel, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

"I salute the work of the Philippine Foreign Service in securing his release and once again thank the State of Qatar for their invaluable assistance in making Jimmy’s release possible," the President added.

Meanwhile, Marcos said one more Filipino identified as Noralyn Babadilla is still missing.

"We remain concerned over the whereabouts of our other national, Ms. Noralyn Babadilla, and are sparing no effort to locate and secure her if she is indeed found to be one of the hostages," he said.

"We pray for the continued success of the truce and for all hostages to be released," Marcos added.

The President said the government will continue monitoring the situation and coordinating with international counterparts to ensure the welfare and safety of Filipinos in Israel.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also confirmed the announcement.

At a news forum on Saturday, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Pacheco's release was the result of the good bilateral relations between the Philippines and Qatar.

However, de Vega said the DFA still has no information regarding Pacheco's repatriation.

The agency has also yet to retrieve information regarding Babadilla's whereabouts.

"We join the nation in celebrating the release of Filipino national Gelienor 'Jimmy' Pacheco from captivity in Gaza. This is the fruit of all the diplomatic representations that have been undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs under the guidance of the President," the DFA said in a statement.

"We recognize and deeply appreciate Qatar’s mediation efforts resulting in the release of Mr. Pachecho," it added.

The DFA lauded the Israel government's assistance for Pacheco and his family, as well as the governments of Egypt and Iran for their aid and support.

It also acknowledged the support and participation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other international organizations in this process.

“Tayo ay lubos na nagagalak at ang ating mga panalangin ay napakinggan sa pagkakalaya ng ating mahal na OFW na si Jimmy Pacheco,” Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement.

(We are truly happy that our prayers were heard following the release of our dear OFW Jimmy Pacheco.)

Cacdac said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the DMW had provided assistance to Pacheco’s family while he was in captivity in Gaza.

“Sa ngalan ng DMW at OWWA, tayo ay magbibigay pa rin ng tulong pinansiyal sa kaniya at iba pang livelihood assistance na nakaabang para sa kaniya at sa kaniyang pamilya,” Cacdac said.

(On behalf of DMW and OWWA, we will continue to provide financial assistance to him and other livelihood assistance that awaits him and his family.)

Qatar, which mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas, said 24 hostages—13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino — were handed over Friday to the Red Cross in Gaza by Hamas.

"Those released include 13 Israeli citizens, some of whom are dual citizens, in addition to 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen," Qatar foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Meanwhile, 39 prisoners held by Israel were released under the truce agreement, according to Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group, a non-government organization, on Friday.

The four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began at 7 a.m. on Friday, the first pause in the near-seven-week-old war, according to a report by Reuters.

The war between Israel and Hamas, which is based in Gaza, started on October 7 when the Palestinian Islamist group launched deadly attacks on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

Israel retaliated with air strikes and later launched a ground offensive in Gaza. —With a report from Jamil Santos/KG/VBL, GMA Integrated News