Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, October 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday promised “to provide utmost support” to the families of Filipinos killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
He made the pronouncement after talking to the families of the two Filipinos confirmed to have died in Israel amid a raging skirmish.
“Last night, I made two of the most difficult phone calls I’ve had to make as President. The nation is one in grieving with the families of the Filipinos who were killed in the attacks on Israel,” Marcos said in an Instagram post.
READ: Marcos mourns death of 2 Filipinos in Israel
“We will provide the utmost support to the families they were taken from,” he added.
In a separate statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that Marcos, through a telephone call, talked to the wife of one of the victims who were killed in Israel.
“Magsabi sa amin kung ano kailangan mo. Nandito ang gobyerno para tulungan ka … gusto ko lang makausap ka para alam mo naman inaalala ka namin at nakikiramay hindi lamang ako, buong pamilya ko, lahat ng Pilipinas ay nakikiramay sa iyo,” Marcos was quoted in saying.
(Tell us what you need. The government is here to help you… I just want to talk to you so you know we are thinking about and sympathizing with you. Not only me, my whole family, the whole Philippines sympathizes with you.)
PCO said Marcos then assured the wife that she and her family will be provided assistance, including a decent burial for her husband once the Israel-Hamas situation subsides.
Furthermore, Marcos also instructed Philippine Ambassador to Israel, Pedro Laylo Jr., to coordinate with the families of the two victims.
“’Yung government ay nandiyan. Nandiyan si Ambassador Laylo, naco-contact naman. Makakaprovide kami ng lahat ng financial assistance na kailangan ninyo at asahan ninyo na titignan namin lahat ng puwedeng gawin para makauwi … basta susubukan namin lahat ng aming gagawin,” Marcos said.
(The government is there. Ambassador Laylo is there, he has been contacted. We can provide all the financial assistance you need and you can expect us to look into everything we can do to get your husband home… as long as we try everything we can.)
READ: 70 Filipinos in Gaza seeking repatriation – DFA
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv previously revealed that the two Filipino fatalities were a 33-year-old female caregiver from Pangasinan who had been working in Israel for six years, and a 42-year-old male from Pampanga.
The embassy said the two were killed on Saturday, October 7, during the surprise attack of Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Israel.
Authorities said the government is still confirming if a third Filipino died in the conflict through DNA testing.