Sr Felicitas, former DPCF head, passes away at 93

 

Sr Felicitas served the Filipino migrant community in HK for decades
(photo from Sunday Examiner)

Sister Felicitas Nisperos, a well-loved pillar of the Filipino Catholic community in Hong Kong, passed away at Ruttonjee Hospital in Wanchai at around 4:15pm on Thursday, Feb. 5, after a lingering illness.

She was 93.

Her death was announced by the Sunday Examiner, a weekly publication by the office of the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.

Sister Felicitas, who was with the Sisters of Good Shepherd, headed the Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos for years, and was an adviser for nine years (2008-2017) of its brainchild,  Simbayanan-KAMMPI, a Church-based association of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong.

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She was well known for her wit and humor, as well as her fluency in Cantonese. She used to joke that the first Cantonese she learned were swear words because she learned the language from street thugs in communities she used to serve.

She was also a wide reader, and used to call The SUN to comment on news events, or to plead, half-jokingly, to spare nuns and priests from its jokes section.

Consulate officials led a birthday tribute to Sr Felicitas in 2018

In 2018 Sister Felicitas was honored on her 86^th birthday by then Philippine Consul General Antonio A. Morales, for her “immeasurable contribution to uplifting the spirit of Filipinos in Hong Kong.”

Congen Morales thanked Sr Felicitas for being a longtime partner of the Philippine Consulate General in assisting Filipinos in distress, particularly in providing them shelter and involving them in capacity building programs.

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With her at the helm of DPCF (now DPCM for Diocesan Pastoral Center for Migrants), Sister Felicitas joined the Coalition of Service Providers for Ethnic Minorities (CSPEM), a network of church and non-government organizations that ensured no migrant worker in distress was left without a roof over their head.

(The SUN condoles with the family and friends of the good sister, who will surely be missed by many Filipinos in Hong Kong, particularly the migrant workers. We will provide an update on her update and other related information when they become available).

 

Phl consular service fees may now be paid thru FPS

 

The new payment system is meant to cut the waiting time for consular services (File photo)

Payments for consular services at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong may now be made through the Faster Payment System (FPS) that can be activated using one’s personal bank account.

A statement posted by the PCG on its Facebook page on Thursday said applicants for passport, Philippine visa, notarial and civil registry services may now avail of this online mode of payment by using their banking app with their mobile phone.

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Payments for these services could only be made in person, and by cash, previously.

FPS is a payment portal introduced in 2018 by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and operated by the Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited (HKICL) to enable instant payments in Hong Kong.

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It is touted to provide consumers and merchants a safe, efficient and easily accessible retail payment service anytime and anywhere. It enables free, real-time, cross-bank/e-wallet transfers in HKD or RMB using just a mobile number, email address of FPS ID.

It allows person-to-person cash transfers, merchant payments, and government bill payments via QR codes.

 

Pinoy remains in jail despite bail grant

Wanchai corner where the teenagers were arrested (Google Maps photo)

A 16-year-old Filipino remains in jail custody despite being granted bail at Eastern Court, charged with possession of a prohibited weapon.

The reason is that R. San Jose,  listed in criminal complaints filed by police anti-triad squads in Wanchai and Yau Tong, Kowloon, is facing a more serious charge before the Kowloon City Court -- causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

In a hearing on Wednesday (Feb. 4), San Jose pleaded guilty to possession of a knuckleduster, a metal fist reinforcement meant to leave serious injuries on opponents in fisticuffs.

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Eastern Court’s Principal Magistrate David Cheung released San Jose on bail of $2,000 after adjourning the case to Feb. 25 to give time for community service and probation officer reports which will be used as basis for sentencing.

San Jose was charged along with Kokou Clement Kouakouvi, an 18-year-old student and asylum seeker from Togo, Africa, who was granted bail of $500 after his case was adjourned to March 25.

The Wanchai Police Anti-Triad Squad accused San Jose of violation of Section 4 of the Weapons Ordinance, after he was arrested in possession of the weapon on April 7, 2025 on the corner of Lockhart Road and Cannon Street in Wan Chai. Details of Kouakouvi’s case were not released.

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But San Jose remained in jail because he is facing a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, contrary to section 17(a) of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance, for which he was remanded by the Kowloon City Court after a hearing on Jan 30.

The charge arose from the assault on a male, Todd Warren Tomlinson, on Nov. 29 last year inside the King George V Memorial Park Kowloon in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon.

A complaint by Yau Tong anti-triad police alleged that San Jose and three other males “unlawfully and maliciously cause(d) grievous bodily harm to … Tomlinson… with intent to do grievous bodily harm….”

191 Filipinos rescued from Cambodia scam hubs airlifted to Phl

 

The trafficked Filipinos came from different parts of Cambodia (DMW photo)

A total of 191 Filipinos trafficked to Cambodia for illegal work were flown home on a chartered flight early today, Thursday, and were met at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and other government officials.

The newly arrived workers took the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Cambodia since 2022 to 877.

The Filipinos were rescued from various regions in Cambodia - Phnom Penh (169), Pailin (13), Koh Kong (3), Mondulkiri (2), Svay Rieng (3), and Siem Reap (1) before being put on a Philippine Airlines plane.

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Cambodia is a hotbed for scam hubs that lure Filipinos with offers of high-paying jobs, often as call center agents in a neighboring country like Thailand. But they are then transported to Cambodia, where they are forced to work as online or telephone scammers.

The rescued Filipinos were escorted on the flight by Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi, head of the  DMW’s Rapid Response Team which assists distressed overseas Filipino workers in abusive situations.

The repatriation was facilitated by the DMW Migrant Workers Office in Singapore and the Department of Foreign Affairs led by Ambassador to Camboia, Flerida Ann P. Mayo.

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The repatriates will get support from various government agencies, including immediate financial, legal and welfare assistance from the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; medical care from the Department of Health, psychosocial support from the Department of Social Work and Development.

Unlicensed recruitment agency in PH shut down; ‘no placement fee’ policy reiterated

 

RCEIGN office being sealed off by DMW agents

An unlicensed employment agency that recruits workers for abroad, including Hong Kong, was recently shut down by the Department of Migrant Workers over its illegal job offers.

Three women identified as being behind the operation of RCREIGN International Manpower Agency located in Cubao, Quezon City, were arrested. They were identified as Anne Marie Gladys Guevarra, Kristine Mae B. Abaygar, and Ma. Kristina Corpuz.

Among those offerered by the group were domestic worker jobs in Hong Kong, for which each applicant was made to pay a processing fee of Php35,000, the equivalent of the promised monthly salary.  This, said the DMW, violates the no-placement fee policy for all overseas Filipino workers.

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For domestic workers bound for Qatar no fee was charged, but applicants were told they would be paid only the equivalent  of Php23,000 a month, which is below the USD500 minimum salary set by DMW.

Worse, the company did not have a license to recruit Filipino workers for any job abroad, said the DMW in its press statement.

The closure order came after DMW learned that RCREIGN was also recruiting low-skilled workers for such jobs as kitchen assistant, housekeeping,  and skilled workers like marine HVAC technician, plumber and air duct installer for Greece.

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The salary offered was according to the position being applied for. However, each Greece-bound worker was asked to pay a whopping Php375,000 as processing fee.

The DMW statement did not say how many job applicants, if any,  had been victimized by the unlicensed agency.

DMW assured that all those behind the illegal operation of RCREIGN would be charged with illegal recruitment. In addition, RCREIGN and all those responsible for operating it will be included in the DMW List of Persons and Entities with Derogatory Records which means they will no longer be able to operate or run a recruitment agency.

All the victims of RCREIGN are encouraged to contact the Migrant Workers Protection Bureau through this link: https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip so they can be given free legal assistance.

 

 

80-year-old cabbie gets bail over crash that killed Filipino tourist

 

Aftermath of the crash that killed Remyl Matignas

An 80-year-old taxi driver charged with dangerous driving causing death in the crash that killed a Filipino tourist last year was allowed to post a $50,000 bail when he appeared before the Shatin Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Wong Kwong-cheung, 80, was behind the wheel of a taxi that struck 35-year-old Remyl de Leon Matignas on Aug. 5, 2025 as he was walking on the elevated pavement just outside the lobby of the Nina Hotel in Tsuen Wan.

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Matignas was declared dead about an hour after being taken to hospital.

The magistrate adjourned the case to Mar 31 at the prosecution’s request, pending a forensic pathology report.

DETAILS HERE

Video footage of the incident that circulated on the internet showed the taxi hitting Matignas as he walked out of the hotel lobby with a suitcase in hand, then pinned him to a wall before stopping.

Police report indicated the driver had complained of chest pain and injuries to his head and hand, so he was taken to the hospital for treatment. He was later arrested and detained for investigation.

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No plea was taken at today’s hearing, and the magistrate imposed as conditions for the bail that the defendant reside at his reported address and does not leave Hong Kong.

Sources at the Philippine Consulate say Matignas’ family has been granted financial aid from the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance scheme of Hong Kong’s Social Welfare Department as a result of his death. 

 

 

Filipina arrested for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes may face 4 charges

 

The Filipina refused to cooperate with FEHD agents, say police

Hong Kong Police have confirmed the arrest of a Filipina in Statue Square on Sunday, and said she is being investigated for three more possible offences.

According to a police spokesperson, the 55-year-old woman could be charged with selling duty-not-paid cigarettes, possession of Part 1 poison (believed to be vape oil), obstruction and breach of condition of stay.

Though the police spokesperson could not confirm if the woman is a domestic worker, the breach of condition charge suggests this to be the case.

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Police records show that at around 12:30pm yesterday the Food and Environmental Health Department received a report about the woman selling what appeared to be illicit goods.

FEHD agents approached her near Exit K of the Central MTR station but she allegedly “refused to cooperate” with them so they called the police. This could explain why there was a swarm of officers in the area after this.

DETAILS HERE

The spokesperson said an analysis of the cigarettes and suspected vape oil was necessary to see if charges would be laid over them.

Hong Kong law prohibits the handling, possession, sale or purchase of cigarettes for which tax was not paid. Violators could face up to HK$2 million in fine and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

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Currently, tobacco duty amounts to HK$3.306 per stick, raised from 80 cents in 2024. This hike brings the tax to around 70% of the retail price, but still slightly the price recommended by the World Health Organization.

Under Hong Kong law, handling, possessing, selling or purchasing illicit cigarettes is a serious offence. Violators face a maximum fine of up to HK$2 million and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Also strictly prohibited by Hong Kong law is the importing, manufacturing, selling of possessing alternative smoking products like vape.

Mere possession of the ASPs in public place could lead to one being fined up to $50,000 and jailed for up to six months. Importing could incur a far more severe penalty of a fine of up to $2 million and 7 years’ imprisonment.

Obstruction in a public place is another serious offence, with penalties of up to HK$5,000 in fine and 3 months’ imprisonment. The fixed penalty for street obstruction was raised to HK$$6,000 in October 2023.

Breaching conditions of stay in Hong Kong, such as overstaying or working without authorization is another serious crime. Convictions can result in a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to 2 years' imprisonment.

The jail time goes up to three years in cases of illegal immigrants, overstayers and non-refoulement claimants who are found to have worked without permission. 

In all cases, an immediate custodial sentence is prescribed for the offender.

Police arrest Pinay for alleged sale of untaxed cigarettes

 

Officers swarm the Filipina who allegedly sold illicit cigarettes (Facebook photo)

A number of photos and videos surfaced online on Sunday, Feb. 1, of a Filipina being surrounded by about a dozen police officers near Statue Square, allegedly for the illicit sale of untaxed cigarettes.

The reported arrest happened at around 3pm beside exit K of the Central MTR station, and was witnessed by hundreds of people on streets surrounding the square.

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In front of the Filipina were several plastic bags containing clothes as well as three black bags that reportedly contained the illicit cigarettes.

(The SUN has sent an inquiry to the HK Police regarding the alleged arrest, but has yet to receive a reply).

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Some netizens commented that the Filipina was known to sell illicit cigarettes in the area quite openly. Others said she also peddled vapes, which are prohibited from being carried, smoked or sold in Hong Kong, but the reports have yet to be verified.

One netizen said, “Parang sya ung nagbebenta ng yosi, dyan ako nabili e (She looks like the one who sells cigarettes, I even buy from her).

Black bags which allegedly contained the untaxed cigarettes

Illicit cigarettes are those for which tax was not paid, making them way cheaper than those sold in regular retail stores.

Under Hong Kong law, handling, possessing, selling or purchasing illicit cigarettes is a serious offence. Violators face a maximum fine of up to HK$2 million and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

The incident happened amid an ongoing crackdown by law enforcers on illicit cigarette sales.

Just two days earlier, Hong Kong Customs announced that it raided three retail outlets and seized around 13,000 suspected illicit cigarettes with a market value of around HK$58,000 with a potential tax loss of around HK$43,000.

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Three people were arrested, including a store owner and two shop assistants.

The two-day operation targeted shops in Sheung Shui, Kwai Chung and Chai Wan after the police received information about cigarettes being sold there at prices lower than the statutory tobacco duty, raising the presumption that no duty was paid for them.

Free healing and meditation sessions offered to FDWs

 

Kriya Foundation teams up with SJMW in holding the healing sessions

Are you suffering from stress, sadness, anxiety, hurt or simple heaviness?  

If yes, these two free sessions of yoga and meditation to help improve mental health  set for Feb. 8 and Feb 15, 11am to 1pm and offered by Kriya Lightning Foundation, might just be the thing you need.

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Co-organizer, Social Justice for Migrant Workers, is calling in particular migrant workers who were affected by the deadly Tai Po fire in November to join the sessions.

Both "Sunday Self-Care" sessions will be held at the Singing Bowl Zentral, 7/F, 66 Stanley Street, Central (close to Lyndhurst Terrace and Central Market near the escalator).

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Kriya is a non-profit organization that offers help to those who seek “peace, inner freedom and happiness.”

Pre-registration is required as the venue has limited capacity. To book your slot, please send a message to SFMW officer  Marites Torralba or call the group’s hotline on WhatsApp, 68720498.

MFMW continues to provide all sorts of help to the Tai Po fire victims

Meantime, the Mission for Migrant Workers continues to provide all forms of assistance to foreign domestic workers affected by the Tai Po fire, including the three Filipinos who have recently been released from their contracts.

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The three are staying at the Missions’ shelter, the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge where they get free relief supplies, clothes, and medical and mental care, plus help with their cases and in dealing with Immigration Department and other government agencies.

To contact the MFMW, call its hotline 9529 2326.

 

35 people arrested in latest anti-illegal work raids in HK

 

A woman suspected of doing illegal work is led away by Immigration agents

The latest week-long sweep carried out by the Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police have resulted in the arrest of 35 people, of whom 29 were suspected illegal workers and six employers.

The raids carried out from Jan 22 to 29 involved groups that posted housekeeping and renovation services in Hong Kong. Officers who posed as customers booked for services and subsequently arrested four illegal workers who were all from the mainland.

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Those arrested included two men and two women, aged 32 to 58. Two were working as housekeepers while the other two were renovation workers.

In separate operations, Immigration officers targeted usual business locations including restaurants, guesthouses and retail stores.

Of the 31 people arrested, 25 were suspected of working illegally. They comprised 15 men and 10 women, aged 20 to 59.

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They included three women holding recognizance forms that allow them to remain in Hong Kong to pursue asylum applications but not to work. One man was found in possession of a Hong Kong identity card belonging to another person

The six others, four men and two women aged 22 to 61, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.

Immigration said the investigation into the suspected illegal employment is continuing.

Many of the male suspects were found carrying out renovation works

Visitors who are not allowed to take up work or conduct business, or foreign domestic workers who should not work outside their employer’s residences face prosecution and upon conviction, face a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment and $50,000 in fine.

Overstayers, illegal immigrants or those on recognizance face a more severe penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment, and a similar fine of $50,000.

In addition, anyone sentenced to no less than two years in jail for working illegally may be deported under the Immigration Ordinance.  

Those in possession of, or found to have used forged HKID cards, or those belonging to another person, could be punished for up to 10 years in jail and fined $100,000.

Employers face the harshest penalty of being fined up to $500,000 and imprisoned for a maximum of ten years. The High Court guidelines prescribe an immediate custodial sentence for anyone found to have employed an illegal worker.

To report suspected illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

 

DMW plug for OFW Pass gets online jeer

 

A Facebook post by the Department of Migrant Workers today promoting the OFW Pass as a faster, safer and more convenient alternative to the OEC printed Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) has been met with adverse reactions.

“Ang OFW PASS ay ang digital replacement ng printed Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). Mas mabilis, mas ligtas, at mas convenient—lahat ay maa-access na sa eGovPH app,” the post said. “I-download lang ang eGovPH App sa App Store o Google Playstore.”

Fourteen hours after being published, the DMW post has attracted 559 comments, mostly pointing out that the new pass that OFWs should be able to use to travel abroad in lieu of the overseas employment certificate (OEC), was not being recognized at the Manila airport, both by the airlines when they check in and at Immigration.

DMW's latest push for OFW Pass

Some complained of wasted time going back to the DMW counter at the airport terminals to get the their copies of their OEC.

The post also earned 1,000 likes, 166 hearts, 47 laughing, 11 caring, eight angry, five surprised snd four sad emojis.

The post followed the one DMW posted last Dec. 11, 2025, which said: “𝗢𝗙𝗪 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

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It urged OFWs to download the GovPH App from the Apple App Store or Google Play. After ID verification, they can go to the DMW section where they can access the Balik-Manggagawa service, which can automatically generate the OFW Pass.

It added that the pass has the following color codes to designate its status: Gray (not yet Generated/Voided), Green (Active), Blue (Used), Amber (Expiring Soon), and Red (Expired).

Another post quoted DMW Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac as saying that the OEC and e-Travel Pass have been combined to make it easier to process OFWs.

He said some 70,000 OFWs have used the pass in its pilot run.

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But some OFWs are  not impressed. A sampling of the comments:

Grace Altillo, who works in Hong Kong: “Hi Department of Migrant Workers opo naka- access na po kami bilang isang OFW. Na print na rin po. Pero ang problema pagdating sa Airport ng Pilipinas, hinahanap parin po pag check-in ang Print Out ng #OEC. Two copies pa hinanap. ISA for (travel tax) refund at yung isa for Immigration purpose.”

Aldrin Bautista: Napaka hassle po.. nagprepare pa din ako nung printed pero pagdating sa immigration eh magkaiba daw sa nandun sa system pinabalik pa ako ng dmw sa airport to verify tas sasabihin po ng staff nyo ay hindi makapagdecide ang immigration.. Sana mayroon kayong proper coordination dahil nakakaabala kayo. Ang haba ng pinila ko sa immigration tas papabalikin lang.. Jusko PILIPINAS!

Jojo Claros Yaun: Hassle ang ginawa nyu sa mga OFW, yung Ibang lahi na mga kasama namiin dito sa Middle East ticket, visa at passport lang (and kailangan para mag-travel)

The comments have yet to be answered by DMW.