PRESS RELEASE                                                         
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                *             Tel. No. 834-4000               *              www.dfa.gov.ph
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No.330-03; 03 July 2003

OPLE CONDOLES WITH RELATIVES OF FILIPINO VICTIMS OF GAS LEAK ACCIDENT;
ISSUES INSTRUCTIONS TO EMBASSY TO SURVEY LIVING CONDITIONS OF FILIPINOS

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today offered his deepest sympathies to the family of the late Jessa Mae Gatmaitan, a 5-year old Filipina who died when her family’s apartment in an old 2-story building in Tel-Aviv, Israel, collapsed during the early morning hours last Monday, 30 June 2003.  The Secretary also wished for the speedy and safe recovery of the injured Filipinos.

“I have also issued instructions to our Embassy in Tel Aviv to conduct a survey of the living conditions of our Filipinos, with a view to ensuring their safety,” the Secretary said. “With the information we will gather in this survey, we will be able to see how best we can serve the needs of our Filipinos in Israel.  This is something that we should do as a matter of course in all countries where we have Filipinos.  Doing so would also make us better understand the sentiments, values and views of our Filipinos overseas,” the Secretary added.

According to the report of the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israeli police think that the apartment building where they were residing collapsed when a gas leak led to an explosion.

Also injured in the building’s collapse were Ms. Cecilia Gatmaitan and Ms. Gene Busadre, the deceased’s 63-year old paternal grandmother and 30-year old mother, respectively. Ms. Gatmaitan suffered injuries to her legs, while Ms. Busadre was hurt in the head, abdomen and legs.

Jessa Mae’s family has been living and working in Israel for many years. Her uncle and two aunt’s visited Ms. Gatmaitan and Ms. Busadre at the Ichilov Hospital Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. Ms. Linda Lucasan, FCCI president, also visited the two injured Filipinas.

Ms. Gatmaitan was released from the hospital the same day, while Ms. Busadre is convalescing in the trauma ward.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv is prepared to repatriate the remains of Jessa Mae. The Department of Foreign Affairs is in touch with the next of kin in the Philippines, and is coordinating with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration. END.