Just over 11% of HK examinees pass LET

The examinees during the review at Bayanihan Centre. Lauraya (with glasses) is in front

By Vir B. Lumicao

Sixty-eight of 608 Filipino aspiring public teachers, or 11.2%, passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers administered in Hong Kong last September by the Professional Regulation Commission.

This was according to Gemma Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers in Hong Kong, who manually ticked off the names of the SAR-based successful examinees from the list released by the PRC last December.

The PRC has not issued a separate list of passers among the 608 who took the exam held at the Delia Memorial School Hip Wo in Kwun Tong on Sept 30.

Lauraya said one passer of the March 2018 LET given in the Philippines was included in the list released by the PRC last December.

She told The SUN on Jan 16 that the NOPT HK would request the Consulate to ask the PRC to speed up the release of the licenses of the board passers from Hong Kong.

She said the passers need the document in applying for teaching positions under the government’s “Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am, Sir”, or SPIMS, program.

The regulatory body said that out of 90,750 LET takers in the elementary level, 18,409 or 20.29% passed the exam. In the secondary level, 60,803 or 48.03% of the total 126,582 takers passed.

The 11% pass rate for the Hong Kong-based examinees was lower than the 13% rate in 2017, when 60 out of 460 who took the exam in Hong Kong passed.

Here is the list of successful examinees from Hong Kong:

Elementary

Artienda, Ruby Eden Bernas; Bistayan, Remia de La Cruz; Fletchetero, Jenidy Manantan; Lorenzo, Jackilou Rabago; Rios, Rochelle Valdez; Soriano, Smily Balansay; Tamundong, Joann Corpuz; Wail, Mary Lawiyan.

Secondary Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE)

Conos, Gene Antolin; Labinghisa, Techie Villasis; Pantua, Rose Cena Meradores; Paulino, Rosie Esquioja; Relatado, Mayshel Manguilimotan; Sarmiento, Marivic Pagtalunan; Secugal Margo Lorraine Bergante; Soriano Maylene Daluson.

March 2018 passer

Romblon, Carmi Busadron 

Social Studies/Social Sciences

Agamao, Eloisa Ellorin; Agustin, Merly Pablo; Balanon, Christine Joyce Sagario (transferred); Balneg, Sharon Domingo; De Peralta, Agnes Palomares; Jimenez, Maylen Into; Liquigan, Arlene Maguddayao; Maltu, Francy Beran; Mayugba, Mary-Fe Distor; Paymalan, Angel Virtue Rubio; Tripulca, Mary Ann Olano; Uhilan, Carolyn Puguon; Valera, Elmarie Fontanilla.

Values Education

Arobo, Maylen Camarillo

Agriculture & Fishery Arts (AFA)

Carawana, Charlene Abenido; Estrada, Beatriz Quintanar; Suelto, Evelyn, Alipater

Biological Sciences

Cordeta, Analyn Alagao; Custodio, Meldy Marasigan; Pacurza, Marinella Domingo; Perez Ellen Andres

English

Aguilar, Elza Antonio; Bacuetes, Jona Baxal; Dionillo, Princess Ganela; Madula, Leticia Zamora; Ozoa, Emerita Pontillas; Palma, Rechel Jasmin; Peralta, Margaret Elin; Ramos, Joana Marie Amores

Mathematics

Agamata, Ema Villaroza; Amolar, Ma. Johnna Caro; Anog, Vicky Aggarao; Arragorat, Rhoda Estember; Cabantug, Merfe Dalubatan; Cammayo, Liezel Retutal; Cubian, Jenarian Ligutan; Estrella, Mylene Egtob; Lacsina, Kristel Joyce Soriano; Lindero, Mary Rose Caspillo; Maderazo, Rusella Ursabia; Nuangay, Marlyn Nualda; Paniza, Ellen Galang; Perol, Judylyn Merle; Piamonte, Roselyn Caspillo; Rafanan, Juvelyn Ragsac; Rebuelto, Gladys Joy Casidsid; Sabate, Marife Emboris

Physical Sciences

Baldago, Sherlyn Electores

Filipino

Ulep, Karil Suguitan; Semilla Rochelle Vicente.

Music; Arts; Physical Education and Health (MAPEH)

Fausto, Mitchel Nacionales; Nomus, Novieh Joy Abenido

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Comelec denies accreditation to workers' partylist 1 day after HK launch

Cabantac led the HK launch of Manggagawa Partylist on Sunday, Jan. 13

By Daisy CL Mandap

Just a day after it was officially launched in Hong Kong, the Manggagawa Partylist learned that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) rejected its accreditation for the 2019 mid-term election in the Philippines on suspicion of foreign funding.

Victoria Casia-Cabantac, spokesperson of Manggagawa Partylist Hong Kong chapter, assailed the Comelec decision in a press statement released on Jan. 15, saying it deprived Filipino workers at home and abroad genuine representation in the legislature.

Cabantac said the accusation that the group was receiving funds from foreign governments and organizations was baseless, and was just part of the Duterte government’s “increasing attacks on progressive partylist organizations.”

She said Manggagawa will appeal the decision as it is unfair and is based on false allegations.

“There are numerous Comelec-accredited dubious and fake partylist organisations whose nominees came from clans of traditional politicians, landlord families and big businesses misrepresenting the poor and marginalized groups in the Philippines. They are the ones that should be delisted from the partylist election and not the legitimate partylist of the poor and unrepresented Filipino workers,” she said in her statement.

The partylist system was formed under Republic Act 7941 to allow marginalized sectors to have seats in the House of Representatives. The partylist groups are allowed to represent workers, farmers, fishermen, urban poor, ethnic minorities, the elderly, persons with disabilities, women, youth, veterans, overseas workers and professionals.

According to Cabantac, Manggagawa is made up of various workers groups in both the Philippines and abroad, including Kilusang Mayo Union, a trade union; Piston, made up of public utility drivers; Kadamay, for the urban poor; and Migrante, for overseas Filipino workers.

Named as first nominee for the May elections is Elmer Labog, KMU national chair; second nominee is Jaime Paglinawan, KMU Cebu chair; and third nominee is Gloria Arellano of Kadamay.

Also among the nominees is Arman Hernando, vice-chair of Migrante Sectoral Party.

In previous elections, Migrante was accredited as a partylist representing migrant workers, and fielded several Hong Kong OFWs among its nominees, including Connie Bragas-Regalado, Eman Villanueva and Caridad Bachiller.

However, it was delisted by Comelec in April last year for failing to win enough votes in two successive elections.

Under the PartyList System Act, Comelec may cancel a partylist’s registration if it fails to participate in the last two preceding elections, or fails to obtain at least 2 percent of the votes cast in the two preceding elections.

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Pinay’s drug-in-mail case moved to Eastern Court

Drug-in-parcel case now in Eastern magistracy, but will likely be moved to a higher court

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic helper who was arrested last September for receiving an air parcel containing cocaine purportedly from a friend overseas will have her case transferred to Eastern Court on Feb 18.  

Michelle Mardo, a 41-year-old mother of three, was charged with one count of “trafficking in a dangerous drug” in West Kowloon Court. 

At the hearing on Jan 14, Magistrate Ada Yim told Mardo she has the right to apply for legal aid in the Court of First Instance so she can ask for a preliminary hearing where she can call her own witnesses. She was also advised to apply for bail in the same court.  

Mardo was arrested on Sept 27 after receiving a parcel containing suspected dangerous drugs that arrived from Ecuador on Sept 7.

An officer disguised as a UPS delivery man and other officers from the Customs and police arrested her. Mardo has been in custody since her arrest.

Prosecutors said on Jan 14 that they had amended the charge to show the intercepted parcel contained 418 grams of a solid substance containing 296.3 grams of pure cocaine.

A Customs and Excise Department had said earlier the illegal drug was concealed between layers of four wooden boxes that arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport air mail center and consigned to Mardo in her Yuen Long address.

The defendant was charged initially in Kowloon City Court on Sept 29, before her case was moved to West Kowloon Court on Dec 7.

Yim adjourned the hearing until Feb 18 in Court 7 in Eastern Court, from where it is expected to be transferred to a higher court for either sentencing or trial.

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Ano ang dapat gawin sakaling hulihin ng pulis

Si Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, general manager ng Mission for Migrant Workers (nakaupo) habang sumasagot ng mga tanong. Tinutulungan siya ni Daisy Mandap, editor ng The SUN, (nakatayo) bilang moderator.

Ni Daisy CL Mandap

“Ang una mong gagawin ay hindi ka magsasalita.”

Ito ang payo ni Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, general manager ng Mission for Migrant Workers, nang magsalita siya noong ika-6 ng Enero sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office tungkol sa mga dapat gawin ng isang migrante na dinakip at iniimbestiga ng mga pulis.

Ang kanyang pagtalakay sa mga usaping may kinalaman sa pulis, batas at korte ay bahagi ng pagbibigay-kaalaman sa mga migrante tungkol sa kanilang mga karapatan, na magkatuwang na itinaguyod ng POLO, Mission at The SUN.

Ayon kay Tellez, ito ang karapatan ng isang inuusig na hindi alam ng marami, ang tumangging sumagot sa anumang itanong ng mga pulis na nag-iimbestiga ng kaso.



“Kapag nagbigay ka ng pahayag, (malamang) hahanapan ka ng butas na hindi pabor sa iyo,” sabi ni Tellez. “Kaya stand your ground, you are not saying anything.”

Ipaliwanag din niya na ang pulis o tagausig ang may tungkulin na patunayan ang paratang sa isang akusado, kaya hindi mo sila dapat tulungan na ipahamak ang sarili mo lalo na at alam mong wala kang ginawang masama.

May karapatan lang daw ang mga pulis na patigilin ka sa presinto ng hindi lalampas ng 72 oras.



Sa loob ng panahong ito dapat ay dalhin ka sa korte para pormal na sampahan ng kaso, o payagan kang mag piyansa habang pinagpapatuloy nila ang pag-iimbestiga.

Habang ikaw ay isinasailalim ng imbestigasyon, importante din na malaman mo ang mga karapatan mo, dagdag ni Tellez. Kabilang dito ang humingi ng tubig kapag ikaw ay nauuhaw, o pagkain kapag ikaw ay nagugutom.

“May karapatan ka ding gumamit ng telepono para tawagan ang isang kamag-anak, kaibigan, NGO katulad ng Mission, para ipaalam ang iyong sitwasyon,” sabi ni Tellez.



Habang hinihingi mo na ipagkaloob sa iyo ang mga karapatang ito, importante na ipakita mo na alam mo ang iyong ginagawa, dagdag niya. “Tumingin ka sa kanilang mga mata at sabihin mo ang ‘karapatan ko ito. Di ba karapatan ko ito?”

Sa loob ng mga panahong ito, kailangan daw ng isang akusado na mag-relax, kasi “ginugulat ka nila talaga kasi ang tingin nila may kasalanan tayo,” sabi niya.

Kapag nagdesisyon ka pa rin na magbigay ng pahayag, kailangan na may interpreter ka para mas maintindihan ang mga gusto mong sabihin. Madalas sa katarantahan o takot ay hindi mo na daw maitama ang iyong pagsasalita ng Ingles o maipaliwag nang mabuti ang gusto mong sabihin.



Pagkatapos mong magbigay ng salaysay, kailangan ding basahin mabuti ang nakasulat mong pahayag bago mo pirmahan, kasi madalas ay may lumalabas doon na hindi talaga tugma sa sinabi mo, o gusto mong sabihin. Huwag kang matakot na itama ang maling pahayag na nandoon.

Pero bago pa humantong sa pagsusuplong ng iyong amo sa pulis ng kasalanang hindi mo naman ginawa, mahalaga din sa isang migrante na ugaliin ang paggawa ng diary o talaan ng mga pangyayari dahil magsisilbi din itong ebidensya sakaling sampahan siya ng reklamo.

May tinatawag na primary at secondary evidence kapag nililitis ang isang kaso, ani Tellez. Ang paglalahad ng isang saksi ang itinuturing na primary evidence pero maari ding magbigay ng ibang ebidensya katulad ng diary para ipakita ang pagkakasunod-sunog ng mga nangyari.

Kapag itinatala ang mga pangyayari, importante na masagot ang mga importanteng tanong na “who, what, when, where” para masiguro na malinaw ang inyong paglalahad.

“Alam kong taranta tayo kapag may ganitong nangyari, kaya importante na huminga tayo ng malalim at pag-isipang maigi ang anumang gagawin o sasabihin,” payo pa ni Tellez.

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DH fined $2,000 at Eastern Court for shoplifting

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker who stole goods worth $1,600 last October from a supermarket in Quarry Bay escaped jail after admitting the offence, and was instead fined $2,000.

D. A. Toquero, mother of a 10-year-old boy and 7-year-old daughter,  was sentenced at Eastern Court on Jan 15 after admitting one count of theft.

The prosecution said that the offense took place on Oct 14 last year inside the Aeon supermarket in Kornhill Plaza, Kornhill Road, Quarry Bay.

Court records show Toquero entered the shop at around 3:50pm that day and took some items from the racks and put them in her reusable shopping bag and backpack.

The stolen items included two packs of coffee worth $107.80, ten packs of chocolate valued at $242.80, two boxes of fish oil pills worth $350, four packs of baby products costing $199, one T-shirt worth $239,  a pair of baby shoes worth $299 and a hoodie priced at $159. The defendant then walked out of the store without paying for the goods.

Unknown to the Filipina, an Aeon security guard in plainclothes saw her take the merchandise from the racks and stuff them into her reusable bag and then left the store without paying for them.

The guard, Cheung Wai-hung, who had seen her stuff the merchandise into her bag, stopped her outside the store and asked to search her bags.

Most of the unpaid items were found in her reusable bag while the hoodie was found in her backpack. Cheung asked for the sale invoice but Toquero could not produce it, so the guard reported to the police.

The police arrested Toquero and charged her with theft last Nov 16.

In mitigation, a duty lawyer assigned to Toquero said the woman has two children who are living with her parents in the Philippines. They were depending on the $2,500 that she sent them monthly.

The magistrate said she considered Toquero’s clear record and the fact the stolen items were recovered and returned to the owner, Aeon Stores (Hong Kong) Company Ltd.

She fined the helper $2,000, already discounted by one-third for her guilty plea.

Toquero’s employer accompanied her to the court but left before the case was heard.

Meanwhile,  a 29-year-old Filipina domestic helper has been charged with theft in the same court for allegedly stealing a platinum ring and a gold ring from her employer in Sai Ying Pun late last year.

No plea was taken and the defendant, G. Manuel, was allowed to post bail of $300. She is due to go back to court on Mar.5.

The alleged theft reportedly took place between Nov 18 and Dec 15 last year in a flat at Kwong Fung Terrace on Third Street, Sai Ying Pun.

The rings were said to be the property of Lee Man Ying but their value was not indicated.

The defendant was accompanied to the court by a case officer from the NGO Mission for Migrant Workers.:

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