Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, October 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
MANILA, Philippines — A 33-year-old Filipino, who was among the individuals held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, was released on Friday, along with 23 others, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“I am overjoyed to confirm that a Filipino, Mr. Gelienor ‘Jimmy’ Pacheco, was among the first group of 24 hostages released by the Hamas yesterday,” Marcos tweeted on his official X account on Saturday.
I am overjoyed to confirm that a Filipino, Mr. Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco, was among the first group of 24 hostages released by the Hamas yesterday.
He is now safely in the custody of officials in our Israel Embassy.
I salute the work of the Philippine Foreign Service in…
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) November 24, 2023
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), its staff members accompanied Pacheco, along with Israeli women and children, and Thai farm workers. They were all brought out of Gaza and handed over to Egyptiptian authorities along the Rafah border crossing.
READ: Hamas frees 1 Filipino, 10 Thais, 13 Israelis from Gaza on first day of truce
Marcos said Pacheco, who was taken hostage last October 7, is currently in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Israel.
The Chief Executive added that the government is continuing its efforts to locate the whereabouts of another Filipino, Noralyn Babadilla, who was held hostage by the Hamas group.
“We remain concerned over the whereabouts of our other national, Ms. Noralyn Babadilla, and are sparing no effort to locate and secure her if she is indeed found to be one of the hostages,” Marcos said.
“We pray for the continued success of the truce and for all hostages to be released,” he added.