Mary Grace Prodigo-Cabrera, a 45-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Maasin, Iloilo, has been confirmed dead after being abducted by the militant group Hamas in Israel.
Mayor Francis Amboy of Maasin verified the tragic news, stating, “Based on the information from the family, she’s dead.” He had been in touch with Cabrera’s sister regarding the incident.
On October 19, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) visited the Prodigo residence in Barangay Burak, Maasin, to inform the family of Cabrera’s death.
Cabrera, who worked as a caregiver, was abducted on October 7 during an attack in Be’eri, near the Gaza Strip. Reports indicate that Hamas militants stormed the residence of her 85-year-old employer, holding Cabrera at gunpoint. Contrary to prior reports, only Cabrera and her elderly employer were present during the attack, with the adult child of the elderly woman not being home at the time.
Paterna, Cabrera’s 72-year-old mother, expressed that her daughter chose to go with the Hamas militants to protect her elderly charge from potential harm.
Cabrera, who was previously employed in Hong Kong, leaves behind a husband and an adopted child. In light of these events, Mayor Amboy has assured the Prodigo family that the Maasin local government will aid in repatriating her remains.
It’s worth noting that Cabrera is the second individual from Western Visayas to lose her life in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The first was Loreta Alacre, another OFW from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.