ILOILO CITY – An Ilongga overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was abducted by extremist group Hamas in Israel.
Mayor Francis Amboy of Maasin town, Iloilo province disclosed that the family of Mary Grace Prodigo-Cabrera has reached out to the local government unit (LGU) after she remained missing days after her abduction.
MAP of Maasin, Iloilo. Extremist group Hamas has abducted Mary Grace Prodigo-Cabrera, an overseas Filipino worker in Israel.
Amboy said that they reported this to the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the Iloilo Provincial government and the Philippine Embassy in Israel.
“It was confirmed that the name is included in the list of those abducted and taken hostage by Hamas,” Amboy told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview on Tuesday, October 17.
The 42-year-old Ilongga caregiver was abducted when Hamas attacked Be'eri, a kibbutz or community settlement in Israel, on October 7.
Hamas barged into the residence of her 85-year-old employer who was unharmed. However, they seized Mary Grace and the adult child of her employer.
Amboy said the Prodigo family initially did not want to go public for the safety of Mary June, Mary Grace's sister working as caregiver in another city in Israel. Mary June is safe.
Mary June contacted her family in Iloilo. In turn, her family contacted authorities about Mary Grace’s situation.
Amboy said he had to wait until the Prodigo family felt comfortable going public.
“Let us hope and pray she is safe,” Amboy added.