TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) — The Filipino who was held hostage by the Hamas in Gaza for 49 days has reunited with his family in Santa Ana, Cagayan.
Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco said he did not expect the turn of events as he thought he would not survive his order while he was held captive inside a tunnel. He survived by eating toilet paper.
Pacheco was luckily among the hostages freed recently. The Philippine government facilitated his repatriation from the war-torn area in the Middle East so he with his family this Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
“With my more than five years of service as a caregiver in Israel, this is the first Christmas celebration that we are complete,” Pacheco said.
He also lauded the fast action of the Philippine government, especially the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, Ilan Flus, for facilitating his release and his repatriation.
OWWA-2 OIC Regional Director Virsie Tamayao said they assisted Jimmy’s wife, Clarice, in linking her to the Philippine Embassy in Israel, during the negotiation period.
“Jimmy’s wife was in direct contact with our heads at OWWA central office and the Philippine Embassy in Israel until his release,” Tamayao said.
The Pachecho couple also expressed their gratitude to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and the other government officials for the support and assistance they received.
They also said the office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez also assisted the family during the negotiation period.
Jimmy and Clarice Pacheco express their gratitude to the government for the full support they received during their trying times. (Photo courtesy of OWWA 2)
OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio said Pacheco’s children will be given a scholarship. The Pacheco family also received P100,000 from the OWWA Central Office and an additional P20,000 from the region’s regular program Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay program.
DMW also extended P50,000 financial assistance to enable Pacheco to facilitate his return documents to Israel for reemployment.(OTB/GVB/PIA Region 2)
