Duterte daughter’s party grows as PDP factions refuse to unite

While the two warring factions within the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) have refused to unite, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) regional party organized by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has been gaining members from various political groupings.

HNP signed alliances recently with at least eight national and local political parties led by the Nacionalista Party (NP) at the Blue Leaf Filipinas in Parañaque City.

Duterte-Carpio said HNP is willing to help the embattled PDP-Laban and offering a hand of friendship to all other political parties who support the administration of her father, the President.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

She stressed, however, that HNP does not intend to recruit members of PDP-Laban or other national political parties. She said that while the HNP has supporters outside Davao, they have been advised to form their own local parties or join other national parties, including the PDP-Laban.

The Nacionalista Party, which supported Duterte’s presidential bid in 2016, is led by the group of Sen. Cynthia Villar and her husband, former Senate president Manuel Villar.

HNP was registered as a regional political grouping, but several major parties including NP and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) led by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos have formed alliances with it.

While HNP maintains it is a regional party, it has endorsed some senatorial candidates, such as Duterte’s special assistant Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, re-electionist Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa.

Marcos and re-electionist Sen. Cynthia Villar have been seen joining HNP’s events.

Harry Roque Jr., Malacañang spokesman, who is not from the Davao region, recently took his oath as HNP member. Roque is said to have plans to run for senator in 2019.

HNP was officially launched last February by Duterte-Carpio and Governors Tyrone Uy, Claude Bautista, Anthony del Rosario and Nelson Dayanghirang of the provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental, respectively, all of Southern Mindanao.

Last July, the Commission on Elections granted the petition of HNP for recognition as a regional political party.

PDP-Laban is the political party of President Duterte. The HNP was formed amid a falling out between Duterte-Carpio and PDP-Laban stalwart Pantaleon Alvarez Jr., at the time the House speaker. Alvarez remains with the PDP-Laban.

Duterte’s special assistant Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said PDP-Laban will not accept new members until the two warring factions patch up their differences.

Interviewed on radio, Go reiterated Duterte’s advice to the leaders of both factions and the other PDP-Laban members to avoid animosity and ensure that unity will prevail, especially as next year’s elections draw near.

Duterte failed to unite the ruling PDP-Laban during a meeting Thursday night, with the party president, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel 3rd, vehemently refusing any settlement with a rival bloc.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. admitted that PDP-Laban members did not find common ground despite efforts by the President to reconcile the warring factions.

“The President said that the members should talk among themselves and then the President will meet them again in September,” Roque said in an interview on dzRH radio. “Then if they really cannot settle all their issues, they can go their separate ways,” he added.

Duterte, chairman of PDP-Laban, met separately with the group of Pimentel and that of lawyer Rogelio Garcia, the President’s classmate, at the Diamond Hotel in Manila on Thursday night.

The meeting came two weeks after the faction of PDP-Laban led by Garcia held an assembly and elected a new set of officers to replace Pimentel as party president and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as secretary general. The group also elected Go as interim national auditor of the party.

Despite the President’s meddling in the in-fighting of the PDP-Laban members, the feuding factions apparently did not find a common ground.
Go said Duterte would hold another meeting with the two groups “with hopes of having a stronger and united PDP-Laban party.”

Filipino maid arrested with employer in police swoop on loan sharks

By Vir B. Lumicao

Employer was arrested at this corner in North Point
(source: Wikipedia Commmons)

Police have arrested a Hong Kong man and his Filipino domestic helper during an anti-loan-sharking operation in North Point.

A police spokeswoman said the 65-year-old man surnamed Cheung was arrested at noon on Monday, Aug. 13, by officers of the Regional Anti-Triad Unit of Hong Kong Island while lending money to two Filipino women, aged 29 and 37, at the corner of King’s Road and Shu Kuk Street.

The area is notorious for being a meeting place between loan sharks and their prey, mainly foreign helpers needing cash.

The spokeswoman said Cheung was arrested for lending money at excessive interest rates and attempting to manage an unlicensed money lending business.

A search of the man’s flat, also in North Point, reportedly led to the arrest of his 41-year-old Filipina maid on suspicion of assisting in managing an unlicensed money lending business.

Both suspects were reportedly still in custody as of this writing.

Seized from the flat were several passports, bankbooks, other documents, a tablet and $100,000 cash.

The spokeswoman said the arrests came during an anti-loan-sharking operation by police codenamed “Sky Scroller and Thunderbolt 18”.

Records seized reportedly showed Cheung was trying to lend money to seven people at an interest rate of 120% per annum, twice as much as the maximum limit of 60%.

The spokeswoman said Cheung had asked for the borrowers’ passports as collateral.

Other reports said the illicit money lending had been in operation for two years, and targeted mainly Filipino domestic workers on Hong Kong Island.

Police have reportedly not ruled out arresting more people. 

Super hero Alden, nag-rate agad sa manonood

Nagsimula na ang pagganap ni Alden Richards sa action–adventure series na “Victor Magtanggol”, ang pinakamalaking TV series ng GMA Network, bilang isang super hero, na ang kuwento ay base sa Norse mythology. At agad nagrating ang show,

Hindi daw ito kinopya sa Hollywood movie na “Thor”, bagamat ang costume niya ay may pagkahawig kay Thor, na may kapa at may mahiwagang maso o hammer. Pero ang mga pangunahing karakter sa Thor na magkapatid na sina Thor at Loki ay bahagi sa pagsisimula ng kuwento, kung paano napunta kay Victor Magtanggol ang armor at hammer ni Thor, at kapangyarihan nito, na ia-akma ang kuwento sa kasalukuyang panahon.

Bilang paghahanda sa pagiging ganap na action star, sumailalim sa matinding workout sa gym at martial arts training si Alden, na sinabayan niya ng pagda-diet upang mapaganda ang kanyang katawan. Mataas din lagi ang energy level niya dahil nasanay na siyang gumagawa ng mga bagay ng sabay sabay, gaya nang paglabas-labas sa Eat Bulaga, at paglalagare sa iba’t ibang commitments. Nag-eenjoy naman daw kasi siya sa kanyang trabaho at gusto niya ang kanyang mga katrabaho.

Masaya daw siya sa paggagawa ng action scenes at lalo na sa kinalabasan ng mga nagawa na nila dahil talagang ginastusan ito ng malaki ng GMA. Kinunan ang ilang mga eksena sa Canada at Japan

Katambal ni Alden si Janine Gutierrez, na kasalukuyang tumatanggap ng pang-aalipusta sa mga die hard AlDub fans dahil para sa kanila, si Maine Mendoza lang ang nababagay kay Alden. Kasama rin nila sina Andrea Torres, John Estrada, Connie Reyes, Al Tantay, Freddie Webb, Benjie Paras, Christian Bautista, at marami pang iba, sa direksyon ni Dominic Zapata. 

Sinugalan ng Kapuso network ang Victor Magtanggol, sa pag-asang mapapataob na nila sa wakas ang  “Ang Probinsyano” ni Coco Martin, na halos tatlong taon nang namamayani sa prime time TV.

Pagkatapos nh premiere ng Victor Magtanggol noong July 30, pinagkakaabalahan naman ni Alden ang preparasyon para sa concert niyang “Adrenaline Rush” na gaganapin sa Sept 21 sa Kia Theatre.

KRIS AT VICE, NAGBATI
Nagkabati na ang dating magkaibigang sina Kris Aquino at Vice Ganda, matapos ang mahaba-habang panahon na hindi pag-uusap. Nangyari ito nang bumili ng maraming ticket si Vice sa Trinoma, kung saan palabas ang “I Love You Hater” movie, dahil wala daw available na sinehan para sa block screening. Nang malaman ito ni Kris, sumugod sila ng anak na si Bimby sa Trinoma sa gitna ng malakas na ulan, upang personal na magpasalamat kay Vice at sa  mga kaibigan nito sa pagtangkilik sa kanyang pelikula. Ang mga bidang sina Julia Barretto at Joshua Garcia ay dumating din upang magpasalamat.

Mahigpit na nagyakapan sina Vice at Kris nang magkita, at maging si Bimby, na naging malapit din dati sa komedyante ay tuwang-tuwang yumakap din. Napaluha si Kris sa tuwa, dahil na-miss daw nito ang kaibigan, at napasaya rin nito ang anak. Nagkatampuhan daw ang dalawa nang hindi napaunlakan ni Kris ang hiling ni Vice na mag-guest sa nakaraang Manila Filmfest entry nitong Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad.

Bago nangyari ito, nag-emote si Kris sa social media na siya ang dapat sisihin kung sakaling mahina sa takilya ang ILYH, kumpara sa mga naunang pelikula nina Julia at Joshua.

Agad na kumilos ang ilang kaibigan ni Kris at kabi-kabila ang nagpa-block screening na nagpalakas sa kita nito sa takilya. Na-touch si Kris sa biglang pagdating nina Kim Chiu at Angel Locsin upang suportahan ang pelikula, kaya napatunayan daw niyang tunay na mga kaibigan ang mga ito.

Bukod pa dito, nagkabati na rin sina Kris at ang kanyang kuya, ang dating presidenteng Noynoy Aquino, na ilang buwan ring hindi nag-usap. Nagpakumbaba daw si Kris na tawagan ito upang humingi ng tulong para mapakalma ang panganay na anak niyang si Joshua, na noo’y nasa ospital dahil sa “severe acid reflux at ulcers”, at nag-aalburuto. Hindi daw kayang pigilan ito ng mga nars kapag kinukunan ng blood sample at iba pang procedures, gaya ng colonoscopy. Si PNoy ang naisipang lapitan ni Kris dahil naging father figure ito kay Joshua noong madalas itong naiiwan noon sa bahay ng lola niya at ng binatang presidente sa Times St.

Nang makauwi na si Joshua, dinalaw naman siya ni Willie Revillame, at dinalhan ng Wowowin jacket. Ayon kay Kris paborito daw talaga ni Joshua si Willie at laging pinapanood ang show nito. Tuwang tuwa ang panganay ni Kris nang ipasyal siya ni Willie sa paligid ng subdivision nila, sakay ang magarang pulang sports car niya. Balitang pinag-uusapan na rin nina Kris at Willie ang project na pagsasamahan nila.

 Samantala, ibinalita ni Kris na imbitado siya sa premiere ng Hollywood movie na “Crazy Rich Asians” , kung saan ay nagkaroon siya ng special participation. Gaganapin ito sa TCL Chinese Theatre sa Hollywood sa Aug 7, at ipapalabas ito sa mga sinehan simula sa Aug 15.

DANIEL, OUT NA SA MARAWI MOVIE
Nanghihinayang ang Kapamilya actor at si Piolo Pascual sa hindi pagkakasali ng sikat na young star na si Daniel Padilla sa ginagawa nilang pelikula na  tungkol sa Marawi, na may pamagat na “ Children of the Lake”. Hindi na raw nila pwedeng hintayin si Daniel, na ngayon ay abala sa ginagawa nitong pelikulang “ The Hows of Us”, dahil nakatakda nang linisin ang lugar na pagkukunan nila ng eksena, kaya kailangan nilang mag-apura. Ang baguhang aktor na si Marc Felix ang mapalad na napili para pumalit kay Daniel.

Maliban kay Piolo at Marc, ang iba pang artistang kasali sa pelikula ay sina Robin Padilla, Mylene Dizon, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Sid Lucero, Ronnie Quizon, Mark Anthony Celebrado, Jess Mendoza, Mariam Zimadar at Ronnie Lazaro. Ito ay sa direksyon ni Sheron Dayoc, at produced ng Spring Films nina Piolo at Director Joyce Bernal. Ang kabuuan ng pelikula ay kukunan sa Marawi, dahil totoong kuwento ito ng nangyaring kaguluhan doon at ang mga naging karanasan ng mga taga-Marawi. Ang target date nilang maipalabas ito ay sa May 2019, na anibersaryo ng giyera sa Marawi, o sa June 2019, bilang independence day presentation.

Ayon kay Piolo, US$1million ang budget ng pelikula, at nakikipag-usap pa sila sa ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at ibang sponsors para mabigyan sila ng suporta. Ang post production ng pelikula, na isang war movie,  ay gagawin daw sa ibang bansa kaya malaking pera ang kanilang kailangan. Ang lahat ng kikitain ng pelikula ay mapupunta sa “Tindig Marawi”, na ang malilikom na pondo ay ilalaan para sa rehabilitasyon ng siyudad na winasak ng giyera.

CARLA AT TOM, MAY LOTE PARA SA DREAM HOUSE 
Sigurado na raw si Tom Rodriguez na ang kapwa niya Kapuso na si Carla Abellana na ang gusto niyang mapangasawa. Napag-uusapan na rin daw nila ang kasal, pero sa ngayon ay wala pa silang petsang napili. Malabo daw itong mangyari sa taong ito dahil marami pa silang tinatapos na commitments.

Inamin din ni Tom na may nabili na silang lupa para sa ipapatayo nilang bahay, kaya naka-check na ito sa kanilang bucket list.

Sa ngayon ay abala pa si Tom sa pagtatapos ng TV series na The Cure na pinagbibidahan nila ni Jennylyn Mercado, at ginagawa din niya ang horror film na “Maledicto” kung saan katambal niya si Jasmine Curtis-Smith.

Si Carla ay abala rin sa bagong TV series na malapit nang mapanood, ang “Pamilya Roces”, sa direksyon ni Joel Lamangan. Makakasama ni Carla sina Gabbi Garcia, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Gloria Diaz, Elizabeth Oropesa, Gloria Diaz, Christian Bautista, Rocco Nacino, Snooky Serna, Teresita Marquez at Roi Vinzon.

LIZA, GUSTONG MAGING LAWYER
Kahit abala sa kanyang mga showbiz commitments, hindi pa rin nakakalimutan ng Kapamilya star na si Liza Soberano ang kanyang pangarap na makapagtapos ng kolehiyo. Nagtapos siya ng high school noong 2014 sa St Patrick’s School sa Quezon City, at kahit naantala ang pag-aaral niya, ay pursigido siyang bumalik ulit sa eskuwela. Naka-enrol siya ngayon sa INNOVE Education Solution Program ng Southville International School and Colleges, sa kursong BS Psychology.

Noong bata pa siya at nakatira at nag-aaral sa Amerika, pangarap na daw niyang maging isang lawyer, o abogado. Kung hindi daw siya nag-artista ay libre daw sana siyang nakapag-aral sa military sa Amerika dahil sa kanyang lolo na nasa US Army. Pero dahil hindi na puwede, mag-aaral muna siya ng psychology ngayon, at balang araw ay gusto pa rin niyang ituloy ang pag-aaral ng batas.

Ang kanyang ka-love-team at balitang boyfriend na si Enrique Gil, ay nauna nang nag-enrol sa Southville International School, na affiliated sa Foreign Universities (SISFU), noong nakaraang taon. Ang iba pang artista na nag-aaral din sa naturang kolehiyo ay sina Jodi Sta Maria (Psychology) at Coleen Garcia.

Sina Liza at Enrique ay napapanood gabi-gabi sa TV series na “Bagani”. Patuloy pa rin ang martial arts training ni Liza para sa pelikulang “Darna”, at nakapag-umpisa nang kunan ang kanyang mga eksena bilang Narda.

Labatt Nida takes up HK post, to stay until replaced

By Vir B. Lumicao  

It’s Labatt Nida’s second posting in HK

Newly arrived Labor Attaché Nida Romulo says she will do as the Home Office has told her – to be the Philippine labor attaché in Hong Kong until her replacement comes.

Labor Attaché Nida Romulo: “Ang order po sa akin is to come to Hong Kong as labor attaché, so, I’ll be the labor attaché until my replacement comes. 

Labatt Nida said this in an interview with The SUN on Jul 17, her third day in office. She was sent by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to head the Hong Kong post as a replacement for Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre, who was recalled for still unknown reasons.

But she could be caught in a bind come Aug 1, when Labatt Jolly is supposed to return to his post as head of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, as ordered by Bello in a Jun 27 memo.

The only thing that could prevent that happening is if Labatt Jolly somehow fails to fulfill conditions set for his resumption of office: secure an exemption from a ban on the transfer of government personnel ahead of the May 2019 election, and get all the paperwork done.

(Responding to a recent inquiry, Labatt Jolly said it is not likely he could come as scheduled because of the many paperwork he has to do before he can cleared to resume the post. He did not indicate when he could come).

Romulo, who served as a deputy to two former labor attaches in Hong Kong, Bernardino Julve and Romulo Salud, before being posted as labor attache in Toronto, does not seem perturbed by the confusion that is emanating from the Department of Labor and Employment in Manila.

“Ang order po sa akin is to come to Hong Kong as labor attaché, so, I’ll be the labor attaché until my replacement comes. Kung ano po ang mandate ng opisina namin ay gagawin ko po iyon,” Romulo replied when told about the possibility that there could be two labatts come Aug 1.

“Siyempre, kasama na po ang taking care of the OFWs,” she added.

She said there was no timeframe given for her term as the new POLO head. However, reports from various sources indicate Romulo has only a year to go before compulsory retirement.

On her first three days at work, Romulo was already in the thick of the action, working on, among things, shortening the processing time for work contracts.

She said she had required POLO staff to stay on after normal office hours until they finish all the work for the day. That would cut processing time, she said.

But she could not give a fixed number of days for processing contracts because, she said, the documents would also have to pass through the Consulate.

As of now, Labatt Nida said she would await mandates from DOLE, but assured that all the training programs that have been going on at POLO would continue.

Asked if she had any word from Bello about his reported scrapping of the OFW ID which was promised early last year in place of the much-disparaged overseas employment certificate or OEC, she said she had yet to receive instructions on this.

As for her return to Hong Kong, she said she was impressed by the physical changes in the city – the many new buildings and ongoing works – and astonished by how much rents have risen.

But for now, she is still staying in a hotel, she said.

Suspended jail term for DH caught selling fake Nike shoes

Foreign domestic helpers who sell goods on the side, especially if they are fake, should beware because what they are doing violate their visa conditions.

A Filipina who sold fake Nike shoes on her day off to augment her income learned her lesson the hard way, when she was meted a jail sentence of six weeks, suspended for a year, after she admitted her offense.

Geraldine Hurboda, a 36-year-old domestic worker, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Peter Law in Eastern Court to charges of “possession for sale or any purpose of trade of goods to which a fake trademark was applied” and “breach of condition of stay”.

The prosecution said Hurboda was arrested on Dec 3 last year by a Customs officer posing as a civilian while selling eight pairs of fake Nike shoes to fellow Filipinos near St Joseph’s Church on Garden Road, Central.

The charge read to the defendant said the officer watched for a few minutes as Hurboda laid her merchandise on the pavement for likely buyers to inspect before arresting her.

The prosecutor said Hurboda, who came to Hong Kong on Jul 23, 2016 to work as a domestic helper for a family on Caine Road, Mid-Levels, had a clear record. She had lost her job since her arrest.

Her counsel from the Duty Lawyer Service said in mitigation that Hurboda had admitted her offenses at the earliest instance, adding that she committed them because she wanted to send more money to her ailing mother.

The lawyer read a letter from Hurboda which said she was remorseful and was hoping to get another job in Hong Kong. Her former employer also sent a letter attesting to her good character.

Law imposed a two-week sentence on Hurboda for selling fake goods and six weeks for breaching her condition of stay. Both sentences are to be served concurrently but suspended for 12 months.

“The nature of your breach of condition of stay is different from the nature of other breach of condition cases I’ve heard. Those cases involved people who are not allowed to work at all in Hong Kong. In your case, you were working in Hong Kong when you breached your condition of stay,” Law told Hurboda. – Vir B. Lumicao

Pinay to be tried for wounding fellow maid with cooking pot

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina driver who had earlier pleaded guilty to wounding a fellow domestic helper in Kennedy Town in May with a cooking pot will be tried in Eastern Court in August after she decided to change her plea.

Magistrate Peter Law told the lawyer of Maria Fe Pangue, 52, to review new facts disclosed by the defendant in a statement, when the case was heard on Jul 18.

After a brief adjournment, the lawyer told the court Pangue was reversing her plea and wanted to go to trial.

Pangue was charged with wounding for allegedly hitting fellow helper Jethelyn Sumagay on the head with a cooking pot more than once during a quarrel on May 22 on the podium of The Belchers residential estate in Sai Ying Pun, Kennedy Town.

Defendant is charged with hitting a fellow domestic helper on the head with a cooking pot

But after the facts of her case were read in court, Pangue said, “I plead guilty, but I have a statement about my case, your honor.”

She passed the written statement on to the magistrate, who read it and noted the differences between her account of the incident and the facts cited in the police statement.

The police report said Pangue, who worked as a driver-helper of a family residing at a tower in the estate, “unlawfully wounded” Sumagay.

But Law noted that in her statement, the defendant claimed she was struck first on the face with the pot’s lid by the victim, prompting her to hit the latter’s head once, causing it to bleed.

Law set the trial for Aug 22 in Eastern Court.

District Court to hear 2 Pinay's claim vs dead employer’s estate

Money claims of more than $50k are heard at the District Court in Wanchai

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipinas have failed to find a relative of their deceased employer who could help them claim more than $100,000 in unpaid wages and other money allegedly due them, prompting the transfer of their case to the District Court.

Cleofe Quintella and Amalia Tongga returned to the Labour Tribunal on Aug 7 for a hearing of their claim against the estate of the late Fung Yuk-mei, who took her own life in January.

Presiding Officer Eric Tam told the two domestic helpers that since no executor or administrator of Fung’s assets had come forward, he was transferring their case to the District Court.

Tam told the claimants they would have to find a solicitor who would represent them there in pursuing their claim against the estate of the deceased.

Quintella and Tongga’s claims were first heard at the Tribunal on Apr 6, but no representative came on behalf of the late employer, who was said to be single and childless.

Presiding officer Catherine Cheng told the claimants their case could not be heard until they found out who was Fung’s estate executor or administrator.

The two went to the Probate Registry in Admiralty to find out if anyone had applied for a probate of Fung’s assets, but their search was futile.

Quintella, who had worked for Fung since 1982, is claiming a total of $65,438 for three months of arrears in wages, long service pay, unused statutory holidays, annual leave and air ticket.

Tongga, who is claiming $41,039 for one month’s unpaid wages, long service pay, unused statutory holidays and air ticket, said she began working for Fung in 1985.

The two told the Tribunal the claims were computed by Labour officers who they consulted after Fung was found dead in her bedroom on Jan. 29 with a pan of burnt charcoal beside her.

Tongga said Fung had been living alone when she hired them. Fung’s only relative was a niece, who allegedly told them she knew nothing about her aunt’s assets.

The Filipina told the court that police investigators had collected cash and jewelry they found in Fung’s room, as well as a letter whose contents were not disclosed to them.

2 Filipinas jailed 4 months for forged documents, lying

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipinas have each been sentenced in Shatin Court to four months in jail for making false representations and using forged documents so they could enter Hong Kong on domestic helper visa.

Ma Isabel M. Almayda, 46, and Mary Ann B. Artates, 43, both pleaded guilty to the charges before Magistrate Winnie Lau on Jul 20.

The prosecution had asked to delay Almayda’s sentencing until Aug 23, saying she had information that was valuable to the investigation of similar cases, and that this could have an impact on her sentence.

But Almayda herself opposed the application, saying she had already pleaded guilty to all the charges and did not want to help the prosecution. That prompted the magistrate to have the charges read to her again.

Court documents show Almayda, using forged documents, managed to obtain a work visa. She arrived in Hong Kong on Nov 11, 2011 as a domestic helper for a local employer. She renewed her visa in November 2013, Aug 3, 2015, Oct 28, 2016, and Sept 28, 2017.

She was arrested on Jan 30 this year after Immigration authorities discovered her misrepresentation.

Her lawyer said Almayda left behind a son, now 17, when she came to Hong Kong to work in 2011. She lived with her German boyfriend who she was to marry soon.

The lawyer asked for a lenient sentence, citing his client’s guilty plea, her remorse and promise not to re-offend, and her clear record in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Lau accepted the mitigation, then sentenced Almayda to four months in jail. The Filipina wept on hearing the sentence.

Artates, who was set to be sentenced that day, also had the charges read to her a second time, and again, she pleaded guilty.

The first charge against her was for making a false statement when she first entered Hong Kong on Nov 23, 2013 on a domestic helper visa. Then she was charged with making a false representation to an Immigration officer when she renewed her visa in November 2015.

In October 2017, Artates allegedly “(caused) to be made a false representation to an Immigration officer” when she applied for a change of employer.

The Filipina was arrested by Immigration officers on Jan 31 after the fraud was discovered. 

In mitigation, the defense lawyer said Artates had a clear record and was remorseful. Her father died on Jan 30 and she wanted to go home but was arrested the next day.

‘Marcos billions’ myth revived in fake US$5b bank draft case

By Vir B. Lumicao

The myth of the hidden Marcos billions was resurrected in Eastern Court on Aug 9 as an affidavit presented as evidence by one of three defendants in a fake US$5 billion bank draft case linked it to the late Philippine dictator.

Marcos reportedly fled into exile in the US in 1986 with
gold bullions and up to US$2 billion in stolen wealth

The affidavit came with an engagement agreement between a company headed by Ruben Soliman, the purported owner of the bank draft, and a law firm that employed the 43-year-old defendant Eliseo L. Martinez.

The company, Soliman Property Ventures & Holding Corp, was allegedly owned by the Soliman patriarch described as a “caretaker” of deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

The Marcos billions twist came as Martinez and co-accused Elmer Soliman, 57, and his son Eric Jude Soliman, 31, returned to Eastern Court on charges of “using a false instrument” for allegedly trying to pass off the bank draft as genuine.

Martinez submitted the documents as his lawyer again applied for bail, saying the defendant’s wife was in town. Martinez offered $15,000 cash bail and another $15,000 as surety from his friend, a Hong Kong resident named “Pieter”.

The defense counsel said the documents showed Martinez was assigned by his law firm to handle the bank draft claim although he came to Hong Kong as a “companion” of the Solimans.

But after reading the affidavit, Magistrate Peter Law said Martinez “just made his situation worse than before” while trying to clarify his role in the case.

The affidavit indicated that Soliman Property had engaged Martinez & Lim Law Office in verifying the bank draft validity. Accordingly, the elder Soliman sent his son Elmer and grandson Eric Jude to Hong Kong, accompanied by Martinez, to present the original of the bank instrument to HSBC for verification.

Elmer Soliman said his son had earlier shown a copy of the instrument to staff at the HSBC headquarters in Central, but he was advised to present the original. But when they returned in April with Martinez, they were arrested and their hotel room raided by police.

 “If your client is a lawyer hired by (the Solimans), how and where did he get the bank document and in what capacity did he come to Hong Kong to claim the money? We’re talking here of billions of US dollars,” Law told the defense lawyer.

The lawyer requested for a 15-minute break to take instructions from his client. When the hearing resumed, the counsel said Martinez was assigned by his law firm to handle the bank draft case.

However, the lawyer maintained the defendant came to Hong Kong “only as a companion” of Soliman.

Law said if a lawyer agrees to serve a client to claim a certain amount of money without ascertaining from the client the source of the money, the relationship raises questions.

Not having done that, the magistrate said Martinez “just made his situation even worse than before.”

Law adjourned the hearing until Sept. 23 but told Martinez to return to court after eight days for the result of his bail application.

Filipina in reported suicide dies in hospital

By Vir B. Lumicao

A newly-wed Filipina domestic helper who reportedly hanged herself in her employer’s house in Sheung Shui on Aug 1 has been taken off life support machines after being pronounced clinically dead, according to Consulate officers.

The cause of the apparent suicide was not immediately known, and no suicide note was reportedly found.

North District Hospital in Sheung Shui where the victim
was declared dead

 According to Consul Paulo Saret, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, staff at North District Hospital in Sheung Shui took off the instruments attached to the 32-year-old victim at 2pm earlier today, Wednesday.

The victim, who had been working in Hong Kong for eight years, was reportedly found hanging by her neck in her bedroom by her 39-year-old male employer, who took her down and called police. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

At 3:23 pm on Aug. 6, she was declared brain-dead, said Lorna Obedoza of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office.

By noon the next day, the victim’s husband whom she married only on Jun 25, arrived from Antique, and was escorted directly to the hospital by OWWA staff. He arrived just in time to witness his wife being taken off life support.

A source said the victim went home only recently to wed her husband in civil rites, with plans to follow it up with a church wedding.

Obedoza said a cousin of the victim had earlier begged doctors not to unplug the machines yet, but they were told of the Hospital Authority’s policy to keep life support on only for 24 hours after a patient is declared brain-dead.

The cousin reportedly wanted the patient to be kept alive until Sunday so her friends could come and say goodbye.

Consul Saret said his office is now preparing to repatriate the victim’s remains. 

Talk to people or call hotline, distressed OFWs urged   

Consul Paul says, call us if you need help

The Consulate is advising Filipino workers in Hong Kong to talk with relatives and friends about their problems to unburden themselves, or call for help.

Consul Paulo Saret, head of the assistance to nationals section, gave the advice in the wake of reports that a Filipina domestic worker had hanged herself on Aug. 1.

If they are too shy to share their problems with those close to them, the Consulate’s hotline is open 24 hours a day with an officer ready to listen and advise them, said Saret.

“Iyong mga kababayan nating may dinadalang mabigat na problema, nandito naman tayo, bukas itong ating Konsulado from Sunday to Thursday,” Saret said.

He said that apart from ATN staff manning the hotline, the Consulate also has a social welfare attaché, Beth Dy, who is a qualified counselor and could be contacted for one-on-one consultation.

Saret said that whatever problem a worker has, be it over money, or problems with employers, a solution can be found.

“Yung pera, hindi naman yun ang be all and end all ng buhay natin. Yung employer naman po, kung anuman ang problema, nandito kami sa ATN at POLO,” Saret said.

Those who need to contact ATN may call the consular hotline, 9155 4023. For work-related concerns, they may call OWWA’s hotline, 6345 9324 or 5529 1880 for the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. – VBL

.