Ilongga remains missing in conflict-hit Israel

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A native of Maasin, Iloilo is allegedly one of the missing Filipinos in war-torn Israel.

Grace Prodigo Cabrera, 42, whose family lives in Barangay Burak, Maasin, is believed to have been abducted following the Hamas attack on Israel two weeks ago.

Cabrera worked as a caregiver in Israel for around four years already.

Mayor Francis Amboy of Maasin town said that Cabrera’s sister went to his office to ask for help because they could not contact her.

It was gathered that the victim was able to send a message to her cousin on October 7 claiming she saw several heavily-armed men in their village.

It was believed that Cabrera, along with a stroke survivor patient and employees, was taken from their home in Be’eri Kibbutz, which is described by locals as “Ground Zero” of the surprise Hamas attack on Israel.

Not far from the house of Cabrera’s employer was her younger sister’s workplace.

But Mary June was able to hide and was already relocated to a safer place.

According to their mother, Paterna Prodigo, her children have been coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in the area and with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in locating Cabrera.

“What’s important to me is her safety,” Paterna told RMN-Iloilo in vernacular.

She claimed to have not eaten well, couldn’t sleep and could not work well since receiving the report that her daughter was possibly held hostage by Hamas rebels.

“My children told me to keep calm. If she’s dead, her body could have been found. That’s why, I’m still hoping that she’s still alive,” she said.

Cabrera had previously worked in Hong Kong and Singapore before going to Israel.

She told her relatives that it was her dream to work in the country where Jesus was born.

Cabrera has a husband who’s working in Macabebe, Pampanga.

The couple has an adopted child.