Latest anti-illegal work operation nets 20 people

 

Immigration officers display the items they seized from suspected illegal workers

A week-long operation across Hong Kong to flush out illegal workers resulted in the arrest of 20 people.

The raids that involved operatives from the Immigration Department, the HK Police, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department targeted multiple locations like restaurants, hair salons and retail stores and lasted from September 4 1to 10.

Seventeen suspected illegal workers, one suspected employer and two overstayers were arrested.

The suspected illegal workers comprised 10 men and seven women, aged 24 to 50.

Four of the men held recognizance forms that allowed them to remain in Hong Kong to challenge deportation, but not work.

Two of women were found in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards, which they are suspected to have used to get jobs.

The two overstayers were both women aged 38 and 50.

A man, aged 51, was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was also arrested. Immigration said an investigation into his operation is ongoing, and further arrests are possible.

Visitors, contract workers and foreign domestic helpers who are caught engaged in illegal work face up to two years in jail and a maximum fine of HK$50,000.

The jail term goes up to three years if the illegal worker is an overstayer, asylum seeker or illegal immigrant.

Anyone found in possession of fake HK identity cards could be imprisoned for up to 10 years and fined a maximum amount of HK$100,000.

Employers of illegal workers face the most severe penalty of up to HK$500,000 in fines and imprisonment for 10 years.

 

 

 

Cebu Pac increases hand-carry bag allowance to 10kg

 

The new allowance applies to 5J flights only

Cebu Pacific will increase its hand-carry baggage allowance starting September 15, from seven kilos to 10 kilos for main airline (5J) flights, including those serving Hong Kong, the airline has announced.

In a customer advisory issued Friday (September 11), Cebu Pacific said the weight limit will apply to the combined weight of the overhead luggage measuring up to 56 by 36 by 23 centimeters, and one handbag or computer bag that can fit  under the seat.

DETAILS HERE

Any hand carry items exceeding the specified weight or size restrictions will be checked into the hold and subjected to applicable baggage fees, it said

Travelers must be able to comfortably lift and stow their carry-on luggage unassisted, the airline said.

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The updated policy applies to main-line Cebu Pacific flights, while subsidiary Cebgo will maintain its existing seven-kilogram cabin limit, the airline said.

To minimize delays at boarding gates, the airline encouraged passengers to pre-purchase baggage allowances available up to 2 hours before departure via the Cebu Pacific App or Manage Booking portal.

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Passengers are allowed up to 3 checked bags, whose base allowance starts at 20 kilos per piece, with upgrade increments of 4 kilos (available in 20 kilos, 24 kilos, 28 kilos, or up to 32 kilos per bag).

If a luggage is lost, damaged, or delayed, the passenger must report it immediately to any Cebu Pacific ground staff, or via our the Cebu Pacific app or website, so that proper action or compensation can be made..

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Compensation for delayed luggage, for example, is Php2,000 for every 24 hours of delay. If checked baggage is not delivered within 24 hours, the applicable baggage fees will be refunded.

Filipinos overseas urged to register for 2028 presidential election

 

There is just over a year before the registration to vote for the 2028 presidential election in the Philippines ends.

This was the reminder posted by the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong yesterday, to remind all Filipinos living abroad, no matter their visa status, that the registration for what could be a watershed election in the country will end on Sept 30, 2027.

DETAILS HERE

Registered overseas voters will be able to cast their ballot for President, Vice President, Senators and a Party-List in the month-long exercise until May 8, 2028.

Those qualified to register are Filipinos who are at least 18 years old on or before the date of the election, and are not otherwise disqualified by law.

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Newly arrived Filipinos, those who have never registered to vote before in Philippine national elections, or failed to vote in two consecutive elections, must register to vote in the 2028 election.

Those who wish to register should bring along their valid Philippine passports and visit the Overseas Voter Registration counters located on the 18^th floor and 29^th floor of United Centre building in Admiralty.

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Right now, newly arrived Filipino migrant workers are urged to register as voters when they attend the mandatory post-arrival orientation seminar at the OFW Global Centre in United Centre.

CFO, Customs link up to ease concerns over balikbayan boxes

 

Ang and Nepomuceno shake hands over the deal

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have signed an agreement to help provide Filipinos abroad with information and assistance on problems relating to balikbayan boxes, humanitarian donations and other shipment concerns.

CFO chairperson Dante Ang II and BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno signed the document formalizing the agreement yesterday.

Secretary Ang said the partnership will assure Filipinos overseas of an avenue to obtain accurate information about their shipments and which government offices to approach for assistance.

DETAILS HERE

“The problem is the lack of information. Through our existing networks and continuing dialogue with them, we can make sure they know who they can trust, what procedures to follow, and which BOC offices they can approach when they need assistance,” Ang said.

Before the agreement, Ang said the CFO had used regular press releases, posts on social media platforms, community engagements and overseas networks to inform Filipinos abroad about customs procedures, legitimate service providers, and the appropriate BOC offices to contact.

All these efforts are expected to be strengthened with the BOC’s active involvement.

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Customs Commissioner Nepomuceno emphasized the importance of the new alliance, saying many OFs send balikbayan boxes on a regular basis to family members back in the Philippines.

“Through this partnership, we want to ensure that they have access to reliable information on customs requirements, proper shipping practices, and available government assistance whenever concerns arise,” Nepomuceno said.

Their agreement comes amid mounting problems about boxes being abandoned in container vans at various ports, including Manila, Cebu and Davao, mainly because freight forwarders failed to pay for port storage, handling and shipping fees.

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Other problems include pilferage and damage to boxes, with forwarding companies refusing to cover losses. Another common problem is the inordinate delay in the delivery of the boxes, made more serious by the lack of local tracking, tampering and damage.

To alleviate customers’ concerns, the government has at times intervened to get abandoned boxes sent to recipients at no extra cost, or if they remain stuck in overseas warehouses, find another company that would take over the shipment and delivery in the Philippines.

A Citi Express customer posted these photos of the boxes which she said were being delayed 

But the problems remain. Most recently in Hong Kong, a number of overseas Filipino workers sought help from various government agencies to track and recover boxes they sent through a company called Citi Express Cargo Services as early as November last year.

The complainants said on the company’s Facebook page that the company staff have been promising them for months that their boxes would arrive soon, but they never did.

Others said, however, that their boxes did arrive, but only after months of delay.

Under their agreement with CFO, the BOC will provide updated guidance on customs laws and procedures, regulated goods, documentation, duties and taxes, exemptions, permits, clearances, and other requirements.

In turn, the CFO will disseminate the information through its various platforms which they use to engage Filipinos who are abroad.The CFO chief added that the agreement should also prove useful to overseas Filipinos extending humanitarian assistance and donations to communities and institutions in the Philippines through programs such as LINKAPIL.

Free flu vaccine for 50 years old up back at MWO

The free vaccine for seasonal influenza or flu for those aged 50 years old and above will resume at the Migrant Workers Office’s conference room  on the 29^th floor of United Centre Building in Admiralty starting on Tuesday, Sept 22, until Sunday, Nov. 29. 

In between those dates, the vaccination will be given every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am t0 12:30pm, and on Sundays from 9am to 12:30pm. The full schedule is in the attached poster.

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To qualify for the free flu vaccine, one must turn 50 within this year, or older. Please bring your HKID card and vaccine record if available.

No prior registration is necessary, but shots will be given on a first come, first served basis.

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Applicants are advised to consult the MWO Facebook page for any updates.

The seasonal flu vaccination program started on September 17 across Hong Kong, with both public and subsidized private clinics administering the shots.

Everyone is urged to get vaccinated as soon as possible, as Hong Kong has officially commenced its active influenza season, with overall activity at a high level.

Pinay jailed 10 months for $1.8 money laundering

 Kwun Tong Court

Another Filipina has been jailed for 10 months after pleading guilty at Kwun Tong Court to allowing $1.8 million of proceeds from crime to pass though her bank account, and then withdrawn by unknown persons.

Rowena Costinar, 44 years old, had been charged with dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense, contrary to sections 25 (1) and 25 (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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Acting Principal Magistrate Li Chi-ho handed the sentence to Costinar after deducting the usual one-third as credit for her guilty plea.

Costinar, a domestic helper, admitted to having dealt with $1,770,298.13 in her account with the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, during the 12 days between April 9 and 20, 2023.

She did the offense, together with another unknown person, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that property, … represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence,” the police complaint said.

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Meanwhile, in the same court, Roel Capuli, 54 years old. pleaded not guilty to the charge of cruelty to animals, contrary to section 3(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.

Magistrate Li scheduled his trial for December 2. He is out on bail of $500.

Capuli is charged with cruelly ill-treating two dogs and causing unnecessary suffering to the said dogs on  September 26, 2025 on Ho Chung Road, Sai Kung Division, Ho Chung, Sai Kung, New Territories.

Pinay acquitted of 3 counts of money laundering

 

Eva Rose Tacda right poses with friend Lea dela Cruz after trial at Kwun Tong Court

Kwun Tong Court today acquitted after trial a Filipina domestic helper of three counts of money laundering, on the day she celebrated her 50^th birthday, ending three years of anxiety that began when police knocked on her employer’s door.

Eva Rose Tacda muttered thanks as she tearfully hugged the court interpreter, the duty lawyer’s interpreter, a friend who sheltered her since June, and the lawyer who defended her in the trial.  

She was charged with three counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

DETAILS HERE

Deputy Magistrate Breanne Kwok said prosecution failed to present reliable evidence that Tacda opened the three bank accounts used by unknown persons to receive deposits from victims of scams, and from which withdrawals of a total of $2.18 million were made.

Magistrate Kwok said she believed her narrative that her Facebook acocunt was hacked and in her effort to recover it, she followed instructions to send images of her Hong Kong ID card, and pose for various angles of her face.

She said these same images ended up being used to open the three bank accounts used in money laundering. There was “no sufficient evidence she was the one who uploaded the photos,” the magistrate added.

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She also noted that the banks’ application forms were in Chinese, her listed addresses differed from her real address, her mobile phone had no traces of having been used in opening the accounts and she did not know the existence of these accounts.

The first charge arose from deposits and withdrawals totaling $256,510.1 in her MOX Bank Ltd. account within two days, on Feb. 22-23, 2023.

In an interview, Tacda said police filed a money laundering charge against her in September 2023 and confiscated her mobile phone. 

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However, two more charges were filed against her a year later, this time for her alleged handling of $940,356 though deposits and withdrawals in her Standard Chartered Bank account on February 22-27, 2023, and the inflow and outflow of $983,839 in her HSBC account also on February 22-27, 2023.

She said her priority now is processing her new visa as she has found a new employer.

She has been jobless since her employer left Hong Kong for good last June, and has been staying with a friend, Lea dela Cruz, a fellow member of the Mormon church.

Police say money problems drove Filipina to hang self

 

The death happened in this luxurious residential estate

A 36-year-old Filipina domestic helper was found hanging by a rope inside the bathroom of her employer’s flat in the luxury residential estate, Victoria Coast in Pokfulam, early today, Wednesday.

DETAILS HERE

Police who were called to the scene at 7:17am by the helper’s employer said the victim left a suicide note indicating financial problems as the cause.

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The victim with initials M.D.C.  was declared dead at the scene.

Police have classified the death as suicide but an autopsy will be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.

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The Migrant Workers Office has confirmed receiving a report on the death.

We will update the story when we get more information.

If you are feeling depressed or are having suicidal thoughts, please call The Samaritans' 24-hour hotline, 2896 0000 for free counseling. Filipinos, especially domestic workers, may also call the hotline of the Migrant Workers Office, 6345 9324, or the Mission for Migrant Workers, 9529 2326.

Arrest warrants served on VP Duterte, Romualdez

 

Police just released this mugshot of Romualdez taken during his hospital arrest on Monday

Philippine political rivals Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez have both been served warrants of arrest three days apart, on Saturday and Monday.

In the latter case, Romualdez was arrested Monday while confined at Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center in San Juan City, on at least 15 counts of graft, involving at least Php7.44 billion. The offences are non-bailable.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said doctors at the hospital said Romualdez suffered from a cardiovascular “event” with unstable blood pressure, and he was having an anxiety attack.

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Despite this, the police served him the warrant issued by the third division of the Sandiganbayan and put him through booking procedures, including having his mugshot taken with the orange detainees’ shirt placed on top of his hospital gown.

Romualdez is charged along with Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and two others with  “repeatedly receiving, directly or indirectly, on at least fifteen (15) occasions, commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks, ‘commitments’ and/or other pecuniary benefits” worth at least P7.44 billion. 

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The amount allegedly came from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and/or other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025. This was after Romualdez was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives shortly after his first cousin, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. took office.

Romualdez through his lawyers,  is asking the Sandiganbayan to let him remain at the hospital after his arrest, citing his “documented cardiac history,”diabetes and primary hypothyroidism, among other ailments.

VP Sara holding up a copy of her arrest warrant as she posted court bail

Earlier on Saturday, Vice President Sara Duterte personally appeared at a Quezon City court to post a Php360,000 bail to secure her liberty after a warrant of arrest was issued against her for allegedly issuing grave threats against President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Romualdez.

Duterte, who failed to get the court to defer or recall the warrants, was accompanied by her lawyers and a few supporters when she posted bail of Php120,000 on each of the three charges.

The charges resulted from Duterte’s remarks during an online press conference in November that she had spoken with an assassin and instructed him to kill Marcos, his wife and cousin, if she were killed. She has denied threatening them.

The alleged threats form part of the allegations in the impeachment complaint against her which is now being tried by the Philippine Senate. The complaint also alleges that she had misused public funds amounting to Php612.5 million while vice president and former secretary of education.

A conviction could remove her from office and prevent her from pursuing her bid to run as president in 2028.

 

Mainlander who passed by Manila arrested for cannabis buds in luggage

 

Suspected cannabis buds seized from the woman passed by Manila from Bangkok

A mainland woman who arrived today at the airport from Bangkok, Thailand, via Manila was found to have about 10 kilos of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market value of about $2.3 million, inside her checked-in suitcase.

The 37-year-old passenger was arrested while she was undergoing customs clearance at the arrival area.

No further details were divulged by the Customs and Excise Department, except to say that the woman will be charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (September 9).

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The woman was the third person arrested today at the airport for drug trafficking, with Customs officers seizing a total of about 25 kilograms of suspected ketamine and about 13kg of suspected cannabis buds, with a total estimated market value of about 13 million..

The first case involved a Mainland male passenger, aged 48, who also arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, last night (September 7).

During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3 kilos of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market value of about $700,000 in his carry-on suitcase. The man was arrested in the early hours today.

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In the second case, a 23-year-old Taiwan male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Barcelona, Spain, today.

During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 25kg of suspected ketamine, with an estimated market value of about $10 million inside his checked-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

The two men will also be charged at the West Kowloon Court.

In a statement, Customs said it will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis.

The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. “They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people,” Customs said.

Trial begins for 2 accused of using fake docs to get visas

 

The District Court in Wanchai 

The District Court today opened an 18-day trial of a Filipina and a local Chinese accused of arranging for Filipinas to obtain domestic helper visas from the Immigration Department by submitting fake employment contracts and falsely claiming they would work for local employers.

Kathleen Emily Vizcarra, 37 years old, and Liu Chung-hang, aged 36 , are facing 10 counts of the charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law and punishable under section 159C(6) of the Crimes Ordinarice.

Deputy District Judge Veronica Heung freed the two on bail of $2,000 each.

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Vizcarra is accused in three counts of the charge, Liu in four and both in three.

Vizacarra is accused with “a male unknown”, of submitting to Immigration a fake domestic helper employment contract entered into by Josephine Soberano and LI Sin-ting between April, 2022 and May 21, 2023.

The visa application resulted in the issuance of a visa that allowed Soberano to remain in Hong Kong, inducing the Immigration Director and his officers “to act contrary to their public duty in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted,” according to the charge sheet. 

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Soberano, for her part, was told she would be sentenced on Oct. 16 at Shatin Court after pleading guilty in November last year, after she promised to help prosecute other people involved in the conspiracy that involved her. She is out on bail of $1,000.

Vizacarra’s second charge involved another Filipina, Remelyn Edra, who obtained an employment visa purportedly to work for Zheng Jiahao, using documents she and an unknown male submitted to the Immigration Department. The papers were processed between January 2022 and March 14, 2022.

Her third charge involved allegedly processing Edra’s documents between March, 2022 and February 18, 2023, with Kwok Ka-lai as employer.

For his part, Liu is charged with arranging between August 2020 and September 16, 2022 the fraudulent employment of Coleta Ayağ by Ho Ping-wing in; obtaining a dependant visa on March 7, 2022 for Ayag after purportedly marrying Chu Sai-ho; processing a domestic helper visa between October, 2022 and October 17, 2023 for Maria Nina Fernandez to work for Cho Yee mi; and processing the employment papers of Edel Mae Lopez between October, 2023 and June 15, 2024 to work for  Chu Hoi-in Wasabi.

Both Vizcarra and Liu are charged in processing the employment contract between Mark Luansin and Tse Siu-po between April, 2022 and February 26, 2023; the contract of Marjorie Lantaño and Chan Shing-wa between March, 2022 and February 26, 2023; and the contract between Elynette Montalban and Tam Ka-ki between June, 2022 and April 26, 2023.

Migrant workers hit out at call for wage freeze

 

AMCB and local support groups raise fist in protest at call for wage freeze

An alliance of migrant workers from different countries has repeated a call for a minimum wage of HK$6,172 for all foreign domestic workers and denounced a call by employers’groups to freeze their pay.

Septi, a spokesperson for the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) said at a press conference held Sunday that freezing salaries would amount to a pay cut, given the surging inflation.

“The demand for a pay freeze actively pushes migrant workers deeper into financial hardship. The current legal minimum salary of HK$5,100 per month is already incredibly low. It fails to reflect a true living wage for the city.” she said.

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“A frozen wage acts as a functional pay cut, driving workers into severe personal debt.”

The International Domestic Service Industry Development Federation and the Quadripartite Alliance for Harmonious Employment Practices (QAHEP) called for a wage freeze earlier this week, claiming that mandated pay hikes could cause mass contract terminations.

The coalition cited a July survey showing 97% of employers are opposed to wage increases for FDWs, saying it would strain their finances. The group also said FDW pay has risen7.8 percent over three years while the consumer price index rose only 5.4 percent.

They said migrant workers should share the hardship from the economic crisis.

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AMCB said that instead of a wage freeze or cut, foreign domestic workers should be paid the minimum “living wage” of HK$6,172 and HK$3,123 in food allowance.

While admitting that the Mideast oil crisis is causing financial problems across the board, the group said it should be the Hong Kong government that must address the problem and not allow it to be passed on to the most vulnerable sectors of society like migrant workers.

Another spokesperson, Dolores Balladares, said: “We acknowledge that Hong Kong workers, many of whom are employers of MDWs, also face economic hardships due to low wages. The HK government is the one accountable for not addressing the issue of workers' low salary, the high cost of living and the unresolved economic crisis here in HK. MDWs should not be made the scapegoat of such neglect.”

The group says a wage freeze will amount to a pay cut, given the rise in prices

The press conference was attended by representatives of various local rights groups like Meilin Wu of HK Women Workers Association, Sally Liang from International Migrants Alliance Academe Network, Fifi Ng of Auto8A migrants committee, Vic Yong from HK Living Wage network and Johannie Tong from Mission for Migrants Workers.

“Migrant domestic workers are dedicated labourers who deserve dignity, fairness, and a living wage, not systemic exploitation,” said the group.

Wu added, “The government policies and loopholes make carers (local and migrant ) suffer,”

Ng explained the growth rates of the MDWs’ minimum allowable wage and the local statutory minimum wage have been much lower than Hong Kong’s median income levels. All three metrics lag behind Hong Kong’s GDP growth.

Mission’s Tong said, “Migrant domestic workers are the backbone of HK society. MDWs are the ones ensuring children, elderly, and households are taken care of, making it possible to increase the labour force for the HK economy and communities to function. Yet the contribution of MDWs is always taken for granted and they are treated as commodities that are disposable.”

Liang added, “Better care for migrant domestic workers genuinely means better care for Hong Kong families. Instead of letting commercial intermediaries profit while pushing workers and employers into conflict, we urge the Hong Kong government to take institutional responsibility, regulate the care chain effectively, and ensure a living wage that supports the entire caregiving fabric of our society.”

The speakers ended the press conference with a pledge to continue the fight, not only for a living wage, but also for better working and living conditions, and for the fair and just treatment of all local and migrant workers in Hong Kong