OFW Hamas Hostage receives over ₱630K assistance package from Romualdez

News by Elisha Centino

January 25, 2024

Jimmy Pacheco, a Filipino caregiver in Israel was held hostage by Hamas militants. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez facilitated the release of over ₱630K assistance package from Romualdez and the Marcos administration. Pacheco was captured during the attack on October 7, 2023, and was later released on November 24 of the same year, through the efforts of the Philippine government and different organizations.

After personally meeting Pacheco, Speaker Romualdez expressed “We know that this aid package cannot undo the physical and psychological scars that Jimmy Pacheco suffered while being held hostage in Gaza. We cannot begin to imagine what he has witnessed and what pain he has experienced.” 

Pacheco received ₱500,000 in cash from the Office of the Speaker and his family in person. He was accompanied by his wife, his three children, and his mother.

“We welcome you home, Jimmy. And you have our gratitude for being a modern-day hero for your family and for your country. Itinuturing nating bayani ang ating mga OFWs na nakikipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa at tinitiis na malayo sa pamilya. We recognize your contribution to nation-building,” Romualdez then added.

In addition, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the program Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) gave Pacheco and his wife Php10,000 eah. With his three children were granted Php5,000 each from DSWD's AICS program for educational assistance.

Moreover, Pacheco and his wife were granted ₱95,000 in livelihood assistance: ₱40,000 each from the Department of Labor and Employment's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).  In which the aid package given totaled ₱630,000.