Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has asked the local Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) to monitor if there are Bacolodnons affected by the war in Israel.

Benitez said as of October 12, there were no reports of any Bacolod residents who were caught in the crossfire.

"So far, I have not received any reports that there's a Bacolodnon victim," he said.

On October 7, Hamas extremist militants attacked Israel during the celebration of a music festival near the Gaza Strip.

Benitez said Owwa should monitor the situation in Israel.

"If there's a Bacolodnon victim, the local government unit will assist them," he said.

The mayor disclosed that he had Bacolodnon friends who went to Israel as tourists and fortunately, they were able to travel to another country a day before the attack.*