Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson turns over the provincial government’s P190,000 assistance to relatives of Leah Mosquera as Consul Mote Cohen and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 6 Director James Mendiola (l-r) look on*
An Israeli diplomat visited Negros Occidental on Wednesday to condole with the family of Leah Mosquera, a Negrense caregiver who died in an Iranian missile attack on Israel, and to assure them of assistance.
Consul Mote Cohen of the Embassy of Israel met with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol in Bacolod City before proceeding to Mosquera’s wake at her home in San Enrique.
Mosquera, 49, passed away in Israel on July 13 from severe injuries she sustained when an Iranian missile struck her apartment in Rehovot on June 15.
Cohen said that the State of Israel provides assistance to the families of anyone injured or killed in acts of terror within its territory.
“Every benefit that an Israeli citizen is getting, the same goes to a foreign national that was hit by a missile or any act of terror,” he said.
The Israeli government will cover all bereavement expenses for the Mosquera family and provide financial benefits, Cohen said.
The travel expenses of Leah’s sister, Mae Joy, who is also a caregiver in Israel, to the Philippines and back will also be paid for by the Israeli government, he said.
Cohen said that Iran launched more than 500 missiles on Israeli cities during the 12-day war in June, with most being intercepted.
He said 30 people died in the attacks, including one Filipino, one Ukrainian, and the rest were Israelis.
“During our war with Iran, Israel always attacked military targets, but the Iranians hit civilians,” he said.
There are approximately 30,000 Filipinos working in Israel, many as caregivers, Cohen said.
“Even during the days of the attacks most of the Filipinos stayed in Israel, they felt safe because almost every house in Israel has a shelter”, he said.
“The Filipinos in Israel are as safe as the Israelis,” he said.
“Life is back to normal in Israel now,” Cohen said.
He hopes that the Israeli and US attacks on Iran have halted the Iranian nuclear program for a long time.
Gov. Lacson said he is very thankful to the Israeli government for the help it has extended to the Mosquera family.
Lacson also turned over the P190,000 assitance of the provincial government to the Mosquera family on Wesdnedsay.*