DNA test ongoing to confirm if there is a 3rd Filipino fatality in Israel
A view shows smoke near houses and buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes in Gaza city, October 10, 2023. (from REUTERS/Shadi Tabatibi)
MANILA, Philippines — DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) testing is being done to confirm the identity of a person who was killed in the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
Department of Foreign Affairs made this announcement as it suspects the fatality could be a Filipino.
Once the identity of the dead person is confirmed, he or she can be the third Filipino killed in the conflict in Israel.
During the hearing of House committee on overseas workers affairs on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that they are awaiting the result of the DNA test.
“We are still, well, we are sad to inform you about the two confirmed deaths,” he said.
“There is a third one. A third possible death and there is DNA testing going on to check if it is, in fact, one of the Filipinos missing,” de Vega reported.
“And after those three, there are still three unaccounted for,” he said.
De Vega’s announcement comes hours after DFA confirmed that two Filipinos had died, amid the skirmishes between Israeli military forces and Hamas.
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