By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The co-worker of slain Negrense overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Loreta Alacre confirmed that she attended the ill-fated Tribe of Nova Music Festival in Kibbutz Reim, Israel on October 7.
In a radio interview over the weekend, Angel Marenias, Alacre’s co-worker in Israel, said the Negrense left Ashkelon City with her Chinese boyfriend and three other Chinese nationals for the event.
Marenias said she only knew that Alacre was headed to the music festival in Kibbutz Reim, when she messaged her at around 6:00 a.m.
Kibbutz Reim was located near the Hamas-held Gaza Strip.
Based on reports from global news outlets and eyewitness testimonies, the attacks began at past 6:00 a.m.
Videos posted online by festival attendees show some rockets fired by Hamas, streaking across the sky and landing close to the venue.
The music festival organizers and security personnel decided to cancel the show.
Marenias said they heard the sound of the air raid sirens from behind.
She immediately messaged Alacre to return home as it was too dangerous.
Alacre had seen and read the message, but did not reply.
Marenias also tried to call Alacre several times, but did not answer the phone.
She also got in touch with a Chinese national, who was with Alacre, telling her that they were in their vehicle.
However, they were ambushed by Hamas militants as they fled the festival site, and were ordered by the gunmen to get out of the vehicle.
Alacre’s boyfriend and another attendee were mauled by the Hamas militants, and were shot along with another Chinese national.
They were later rescued by Israeli forces but succumbed to the injuries in the attack.
Marenias said she and several other Filipino OFWs tried to visit every hospital in southern Israel looking for Alacre.
However, they later received the sad news from the Philippine Embassy in Israel that Alacre had been found, but had already passed away.
Meanwhile, Alacre’s employer, Noam Solomon, was also distraught after receiving news of Alacre’s demise.
In a social media post, the employer said Alacre has been part of their family for over 14 years as a caregiver, and served as her right-hand confidant for six years.
“Sadly [she] was murdered in cold blood by Hamas murderers, probably on the cursed Sabbath. May her memory be blessed, rest in peace,” Solomon said.
On the other hand, arrangements are now being made for Alacre’s remains to be repatriated back to her home at Barangay Cadiz Viejo in Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City.
Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Cacdac assured assistance for the Alacre family.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has also pledged support to the bereaved family, according to Provincial Public Affairs head, Jose Maria Amugod, who is also in-charge of the provincial government’s Migrant Resource Center (MRC).
“We will discuss the assistance that will be provided. Our Provincial Committee on Migration and Development, of which the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are members, will take action,” Amugod said.
The tragic attack resulted in at least 260 casualties.
It was earlier speculated that Alacre, along with several attendees, might have been abducted to the Gaza Strip.
More than 30,000 Filipinos are currently residing and working in Israel, with 137 in the Gaza Strip.
Data from MRC indicates that more than 200 OFWs from Negros Occidental are employed in Israel.
The Department of Foreign Affairs elevated Gaza to Alert Level 4, ordering the mandatory evacuation of all Filipinos.
Earlier, Israel told civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate ahead of an expected ground invasion of the strip.
The Israeli Defence Forces has already conducted a series of raids in the Gaza Strip, aiming to neutralize the Hamas militants and to rescue the hundreds of Israeli and foreign civilians they have kidnapped during the October 7 attacks.
Airstrikes in the strip have also intensified over the past few days as Israel rejected Hamas’ request for a ceasefire.
The Philippine Anti-Terrorism Council is now pushing to declare Hamas as a “terrorist group,” after they were accused of killing three Filipino OFWs, including Alacre in Israel./DGB, WDJ