By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
There is no schedule yet for the repatriation of the remains of Loreta Alacre, the Negrense overseas Filipino worker (OFW) killed amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian-militant group Hamas.
Alacre’s sister Anabella personally appeared at the Provincial Capitol yesterday morning, as she sought the provincial government’s assistance for her sister’s burial once her remains returned home.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson had already pledged support to the bereaved family.
Anabella said they are currently processing documents for the repatriation required by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas has also handed over an initial cash assistance of P40,000 to Alacre’s nieces and nephews, as well as to her other sister who is a single parent.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. also expressed his condolences to the Alacre family over the phone yesterday morning.
Marcos also informed them that Loreta’s other sibling, Nelia Alacre, who is also working as an OFW in Kuwait, would be allowed to return home to be with the family as they grieve over their sister’s passing.
The Alacre family have also begun making preparations for Loreta’s remains to be placed at their home at Barangay Cadiz Viejo in Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City.
Alacre succumbed to her wounds on October 12, after she and her colleagues were ambushed by Hamas gunmen on October 7, while they were trying to flee during an attack on the Tribe of Nova Music Festival in Kibbutz Re’im in Israel.
The attack at the music festival claimed the lives of at least 260 attendees, while dozens were abducted by the Palestinian gunmen and are being held captive in the Gaza Strip.
Alacre was one of the attendees who had been abducted by Hamas.
Hamas is now being considered by the Philippine Government’s Anti-Terror Council as a foreign terror organization for being responsible in the murder of Alacre and two other OFWs./DGB, WDJ