Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed her grattitude to the governments of Qatar, Egypt, and Iran for their assistance in the release of a Filipino, who had been taken hostage by Palestinian group Hamas.
The victim, Gelienor ‘Jimmy’ Pacheco, 33, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Israel, was among the 24 hostages released on the evening of Nov. 24.
"Ipinapaabot ko ang aking taos pusong pasasalamat sa pamahalaan ng Qatar, Egypt, at Iran sa napakahalagang tulong ng mga ito para mapalaya ang Pilipino na si Jimmy Pacheco kasama ang iba pang mga bihag ng Hamas nitong Sabado," the Vice President said in a statement on Sunday, Nov. 26.
Due to this event, Sara said that the success of freeing Pacheco is a success of the current administration.
"Ang kaligtasan ng ating kababayan na si Pacheco ay tagumpay din ng Marcos Administration sa pangunguna ng Department of Foreign Affairs, lalong lalo na ng mga kawani ng embahada ng Pilipinas sa Israel," she said.
Meanwhile, Duterte said she was hopeful for the safety of Noralyn Babadilla, another Filipino victim of the militant group.
"Patuloy po nating ipagdasal na makitang ligtas ang isa pang Pilipino na si Noralyn Babadilla," she said.
"Hangad natin ang pagtatagumpay ng usaping pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng Israel at Hamas."
It can be recalled that Hamas and the Israeli government had an agreement to release hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinians being released from jail.
The agreement includes a complete ceasefire and cessation of air operations in Gaza.
In an exclusive interview on Monday, Nov. 27, the Department of Foreign Affairs Usec. Eduardo de Vega said that Pacheco will be coming home to the Philippines next month to spend Christmas with his family.
