MANILA – The remains of Angelyn Peralta Aguirre, a 32-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict, have been returned to the Philippines.
According to Philippines News Agency, on Friday, Aguirre's body arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was subsequently handed over to her grieving family at the PAIR-PAGS compound of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). The turnover was facilitated by DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Arnell Ignacio.
Aguirre had been employed as a caregiver in southern Israel, where she lost her life on October 7, 2023, due to an attack by Hamas militants on her kibbutz, as per the official statement from the DMW. She reportedly refused to evacuate without her elderly Israeli ward, who was also killed in the incident.
During an appearance on PTV's Bagong Pilipinas, Cacdac expressed his condolences and detailed the assistance being extended to the family, "We unite in mourning with the family and offer our deepest sympathies to those they leave behind. All forms of support, including financial aid, funeral and burial assistance, as well as livelihood and employment opportunities for the bereaved family, are being coordinated with the relevant government agencies." He confirmed that they, in collaboration with Administrator Ignacio of OWWA, have mobilized to render necessary aid.
To date, the conflict has resulted in the death of four Filipino nationals in Israel. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given explicit instructions to the DMW to maintain close communication with the families of the deceased and to provide all possible support.
Additionally, Cacdac announced the imminent repatriation of more OFWs from Israel. So far, 119 out of 178 Filipinos who have sought repatriation have been brought home. The DMW expects the arrival of 23 OFWs on November 6 and another 27 on November 7 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Efforts are ongoing to process the repatriation of other OFWs.
Families of OFWs in Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank, where an estimated 26 Filipino workers reside, have been advised to reach out to the 1348 OWWA Hotline for any assistance required.