PH Ambassador to Israel Pedro "Junie" Laylo, Jr. | The Source - video Dailymotion

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Israel retaliates and orders a complete siege of Gaza as Hamas threatens the lives of dozens of hostages.  Two Filipinos hurt and seven still unaccounted for in the midst of the escalating Israel-Hamas war.  What kind of assistance is the Philippine government offering to Filipinos caught in the crossfire?  Pinky Webb speaks with Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro "Junie" Laylo, Jr.  Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

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00:00 Welcome to The Source, where we combine the headlines with in-depth conversations with

00:06 the newsmakers themselves. I'm Pinky Webb. Today on the program, Israel retaliates and

00:13 orders a complete siege of Gaza as Hamas threatens the lives of dozens of hostages. Two Filipinos

00:19 hurt and seven still unaccounted for in the midst of the escalating Israel-Hamas war.

00:26 What kind of assistance is the Philippine government offering to Filipinos caught in

00:30 the crossfire? Philippine Ambassador to Israel Pedro Juni Laila Jr. and Migrant Workers Department

00:37 Officer in Charge Hans Kakdak joins us in the program.

00:51 Israel is striking back at Hamas targets after its officials ordered a complete siege of

00:57 Gaza. Hamas warned civilian hostages will be executed without warning and the horrendous

01:03 act will be broadcasted if Israel targets people in Gaza. In the midst of the war, CNN's

01:10 chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward and her team were forced to take shelter

01:15 from rockets near the Israel-Gaza border.

01:19 So forgive me, I have a slightly unelegant position, but we have just had a massive barrage

01:24 of rockets coming in here, not too far from us. So we have had to take shelter here by

01:31 the roadside. We're just about five minutes away. Gaza is in that direction. We can hear

01:37 now a lot of jets in the sky. We could also hear the Iron Dome intercepting a number of

01:44 those rockets as they were whizzing overhead and making impact in that direction, not too

01:50 far from here.

01:51 We came to this location because this was ground zero for this entire operation of carnage.

01:59 Hamas militants came on a pickup truck. This was the first place where they breached that

02:04 border wall and they basically drove down this strip, just spraying lead wherever they

02:12 went. We saw, in fact I was just grabbing it before that happened and we had to hit

02:15 the deck, but heavy weaponry is being used.

02:18 Get up now. Where are we moving to? Sorry, just one second.

02:25 Let's come up and go this way and then get in the car and go.

02:28 So now I can show you the scene here. This is where those militants first came, opening

02:37 up fire on all these vehicles. There's a baby carriage down there, turned over on its side.

02:43 You can see over there, Clayton, if you just show in the distance there, some kind of strikes.

02:49 Looks like in Gaza as well. Return fire. Or is that the smoke from the rocket launches?

02:57 Forgive me. It's a little difficult after being crouched in a ditch to know exactly

03:03 what's been going on. But yes, multiple casualties along this area. You can probably see the

03:11 scale of the damage that was done to these vehicles. A lot of them just blew up with

03:18 the force of the ammunition they were taking. And they're just now towing away the actual

03:24 pickup truck that was carrying those Hamas fighters. And that was some resistance. Careful,

03:33 Clayton. There were a couple of bullet holes in the windshield. So they stopped the car.

03:43 They got out of it. And they just went on this shooting spree. This is also, they believe,

03:48 where a lot of hostages were taken. They just got out of this, started grabbing people,

03:53 started shooting people and taking them back to that side of the border.

03:58 And CNN's chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward there reporting. Seven Filipinos

04:06 in Israel remain unaccounted for according to the Foreign Affairs Department. That's

04:10 the latest news we have. The DFA says the Philippine embassy is working nonstop with

04:15 Israeli security authorities and community contacts to ascertain the condition of those

04:20 missing. Now let's go straight to the source of the story. We have Philippine Ambassador

04:24 to Israel, Pedro Juni Lailo Jr. Ambassador Lailo, thank you so much for your time. Welcome

04:30 to the source, sir.

04:33 Thank you, Peaky. And good morning to all of your viewers.

04:37 Yes. I appreciate your time, Ambassador. I believe it's about 4 a.m. there. And you have

04:42 been receiving interviews or granting interviews nonstop since 1 a.m. I heard.

04:48 Yeah. That's part of the job.

04:52 That's right, sir. It's hard to sleep at this time.

04:58 Yeah, really. But that's it. Peaky, I'll just update what's happening here. As of October

05:11 9, 10 o'clock Israeli time, of the 29 reported missing, 23 were rescued or recovered. And

05:25 there are still five missing. We haven't counted them yet. And then we received a report last

05:33 week that one of them died. So first thing in the morning, our labor attache will go

05:44 and verify it. It was reported that one of the caregivers was already in the hospital.

05:54 Ambassador, let's clarify that because, again, I want to go back to what the DFA was saying.

06:02 So initially there were 29 missing and then supposedly 22 were rescued, transferred to

06:08 safer areas and now in hotels. Of the 22, one is supposed to be in the hospital for

06:16 moderate injury. He was probably hit in the arm.

06:19 Yes. While he was being rescued.

06:22 Okay. So that's still correct.

06:24 Yes. The situation has changed. 23 were rescued. And there are still five Filipinos who were

06:34 not counted. And then this one, the one who's still alive, he was missing before. But a

06:45 Filipino community leader reported that he was on the way. So we will verify that.

06:52 All right. Why did the report become like that, Ambassador, that the Filipino community

06:58 is saying that it looks like one unaccounted for died? What details can you give us?

07:06 We had a meeting with the Filipino community leaders last night. So around 10 o'clock,

07:15 someone reported that he was on the way. So we need to verify that with the police.

07:25 Of course, there is a process. But we will start now, first thing in the morning.

07:31 Yes.

07:32 That's what Labor will do first.

07:35 Okay. And I'm sure we'll get more information on that a little later on.

07:39 Yes.

07:40 It's 4 a.m. over there in Israel right now. But Ambassador, I hope you don't mind.

07:45 I know you can't give us much information. But why did the community leaders report

07:50 where the report supposedly came from that someone was on the way? Is it because, what is it?

07:57 A body was supposed to be found or the family said? And what circumstance can you give us

08:04 or any information?

08:06 Yes. Because usually, Gaza is enclaved. Military operations are happening there.

08:14 So it's off limits. We can't enter there. We won't be allowed to enter.

08:21 That's why we rely on the Israeli authorities.

08:25 So while they're clearing, because the policy there in Israel,

08:30 especially in dangerous places, areas near Gaza,

08:36 there are safe rooms or panic rooms.

08:40 It's where they hide when there are attackers.

08:44 So while they're clearing the IDF, one by one, that's where the 23 are found.

08:51 And then maybe one of the 23 already passed away.

09:01 So that's the process. We still can't verify because even the evacuees of the IDF

09:11 that they put in the hotels, if they don't call us that they're here,

09:18 that's where we go to them.

09:21 So last night, we had a meeting with the Filipino community leaders.

09:25 One leader said that he heard something like that.

09:30 He knew that it was there. That's why we need to check and verify.

09:34 And the verification process, Ambassador Laila, would be through the IDF?

09:42 Yes. They are the only ones who can enter and fight to neutralize the Hamas.

09:55 Ambassador, there's supposed to be also a report out of this 29 that you've just updated

10:03 that there's supposed to be one wife that allegedly saw her husband

10:11 in the videos circulating on social media as one of those that was taken hostage

10:17 and brought to Gaza. Can you give us any information regarding this or any update?

10:23 Because if that is the wife who says she seems to have seen, it appears that's her husband.

10:30 How compelling is this information?

10:34 We treat it as compelling, but again, we need to be careful.

10:41 We need to verify that it's included in the list of...

10:46 Because so far, the data is different.

10:52 It's said that 150 prisoners are in the hands of Hamas.

10:59 We are asking the Israeli authorities to verify that there are Filipino people here.

11:07 We have to wait for their advisory.

11:14 So I guess the process, Ambassador, would really be that the Filipinos will contact you

11:23 and give information about their loved ones.

11:25 For example, their loved ones are missing or they are seen on social media.

11:32 The process would be they would reach out to you.

11:35 However, you still need confirmation from Israeli authorities.

11:42 Yes, because of course, they are the only ones we can ask for help.

11:47 For example, we will give their names, contact numbers, pictures, and last known location.

11:59 The IDF will verify it because we are not allowed to enter those areas.

12:07 We are only relying on the Israeli authorities.

12:10 But the woman who said that she supposedly saw her husband in a video circulating on social media,

12:19 did she already contact your office?

12:24 Yes, that's why she is included in the five missing people.

12:29 We are verifying it now.

12:32 She is really included.

12:34 So of course, the focus of the IDF is to neutralize the...

12:42 I don't know if they are waiting for them to act on the information we sent.

12:50 Ambassador, I can imagine that so many other countries, of course,

12:56 are also coordinating with the Israeli authorities to find out more about their fellow Filipinos.

13:03 But okay, so the five unaccounted for are included in the video where she supposedly saw her husband

13:10 in a video circulating on social media.

13:14 They are included in the five unaccounted for.

13:17 Ambassador, I just need to take a short break.

13:20 This is The Source on CNN Philippines.

13:22 Please stay tuned.

13:24 You're watching The Source on CNN Philippines.

13:31 I'm Pinky Webb, our source today, Philippine Ambassador to Israel, Pedro Juni Laila Jr.

13:35 Ambassador, I hope you don't mind, I just need to clarify.

13:38 Because in the 29, there are two people who are supposed to be in the hospital.

13:41 One was shot while being rescued and the other one, I believe, from smoke inhalation.

13:46 This is supposed to be, you need to verify, that he died.

13:51 This is not one of the two hospitals?

13:57 No.

13:59 This is included in the missing.

14:01 I see.

14:03 It was verified that six people were missing.

14:07 But someone reported that one of them died.

14:11 So that's what we're verifying.

14:13 So it's not included in the missing because there's a report that he died.

14:22 So we're just verifying.

14:24 So what's coming out is five unaccounted for and one for confirmation if he really died.

14:32 In our last report, seven people were missing.

14:37 One was found, so he was added to the rescue.

14:41 And the other one was reported dead.

14:43 Ambassador, could you help us understand,

14:46 let's say those unaccounted for, will they be together?

14:56 Is it a family?

14:58 Where were they when the assault happened?

15:04 Are they close to?

15:07 Actually, it's just one area.

15:09 Concentrated.

15:11 Of course, caregivers will know each other there.

15:16 In Quibuts, Berim,

15:20 all of the people who were attacked by Hamas were taken hostage.

15:31 So we're just verifying now if the people who were taken are with the Filipinos.

15:40 So that's what we're waiting for.

15:42 Those are the five unaccounted for.

15:45 Go ahead, Ambassador.

15:49 Yes, because we're looking for unaccounted for.

15:53 Even on social media, even on their cell phones, they can't be reached.

15:59 So we gave the information to the Israeli authorities,

16:05 hoping we can get feedback.

16:09 But those five are, again, just to clarify,

16:13 Ambassador, they were staying pretty much in the same area?

16:19 Yes.

16:20 And what are their profiles?

16:23 Are they caregivers?

16:25 Because there's also reports of possibly students.

16:28 Yes, they're caregivers.

16:31 And then there's the spread of agro-studies,

16:38 that the Filipinos are students.

16:41 That's not true.

16:43 So we're pleading that if the information is not verified,

16:49 we shouldn't spread it,

16:51 because it will continue to cause fear and panic to our countrymen.

16:58 All the 310 students are accounted for.

17:05 So they're safe.

17:08 That's good to hear.

17:09 Yes.

17:11 Ambassador, at the moment, are there a lot, a number of Filipinos,

17:19 at the moment, that are asking to be rescued?

17:23 And if so, is there a place that the embassy has identified

17:30 where they could be housed?

17:34 Well, so far, we haven't received anything like that.

17:40 Usually, the Home Front Command,

17:43 when they determine that there's danger,

17:46 they immediately evacuate.

17:48 But this 23 rescued,

17:53 the Israeli government is housing them in hotels.

17:58 And their food is free.

18:02 So the Israeli government is also taking care of our countrymen

18:08 when they are evacuated.

18:11 And they treat every national the same as their own national or even citizens,

18:19 so that there's no delineation, no difference.

18:22 Ambassador, I just wanted to get also an overview of what the situation is there now.

18:28 How is the daily life there now?

18:33 Of course, it's a bit tense,

18:36 because it's still raining rockets.

18:40 It's not just because of the terrible thing that happened last Saturday.

18:46 Right now, there are 4,500 rockets launched from Gaza.

18:54 And fortunately, most of them are intercepted by the Iron Dome,

19:02 so they don't land, especially here in the populated areas.

19:07 Yesterday, when we were at the embassy,

19:10 there was a siren again.

19:13 We immediately went to the bomb shelters.

19:17 But that's how it is.

19:20 They say that while this is happening,

19:23 rockets will continue to be launched,

19:28 and the Israeli Defense Forces will operate.

19:33 So we think that the conflict will not end that easily.

19:39 Very hard to determine that, I'm sure, Ambassador.

19:44 Please take care of yourself.

19:46 A Philippine Ambassador to Israel, Pedro Junie Lailo Jr.

19:50 Thank you, sir.

19:51 Thank you.

19:54 Thank you, sir. And we'll be taking a very short break.

19:56 This is The Source on CNN Philippines.

19:58 Please stay tuned.

19:59 ♪

PH Ambassador to Israel Pedro "Junie" Laylo, Jr. | The Source

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