Pinoy hostage freed by Hamas awaits passport

MANILA, Philippines — The Filipino hostage released from Hamas captivity is ready to return to the Philippines but has to wait for his new passport after all his belongings, including his passport, were destroyed when Hamas militants burned their house during the attacks in Israel on Oct. 7. His elderly employer was murdered by Hamas.

Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco, a caregiver, has been released from the hospital after Israeli doctors determined he is in good health and fit for discharge.

The Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv accompanied Pacheco to his assigned accommodation where he is recuperating and reconnecting with his family.

Deputy chief of mission Anthony Achilles Mandap and other embassy officials visited Pacheco before his release.

They brought him clothes as well as chicken adobo and pinakbet, as he craved home-cooked Filipino meals.

He lost 11 kilos after 49 days of captivity.

“The embassy is preparing Jimmy’s new passport for him to be able to go home and spend Christmas with his wife and three children in the Philippines,” the embassy said.

Pacheco will receive initial financial assistance from the embassy’s DMW-OWWA team and additional benefits when he arrives in Manila.

On his first day of freedom, Pacheco was visited by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen at the Yitzhak Shamir Medical Center where he was recovering.

Cohen said that foreign citizens will receive dedicated care from Israel and will be entitled to all of their rights from Israel’s National Insurance.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Laylo conveyed the country’s gratitude to Israel for facilitating the hostages’ release.

The Israeli government will provide Pacheco and his immediate family with lifetime social security benefits and a regular stipend similar to those given to Israelis who are victims of terrorist attacks.