The SUN HK

Filipino sound studio owner hangs self

Posted on 24 February 2020 No comments

By Vir B. Lumicao

The victim ran a sound studio in this building at 214 Des Voeux Rd Central

A Filipino musician and sound studio owner has reportedly hanged himself to death in a commercial center in Sheung Wan.

Police said the 40-year-old male victim named Elmo was found dead by his 45-year-old Filipina wife at about 6:48pm on Sunday, Feb 23.

He used a wire to hang himself with from the ceiling of a sound studio at 214 Des Veoux Road Central, the Police Public Relations branch said.

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A spokeswoman said it was the wife who pulled the victim’s body down and called the police. He was taken unconscious to Queen Mary Hospital by responding officers but was certified dead on arrival.

The death was classified as “death by hanging” and that there were no suspicious circumstances and no suicide note found, she said.

A source at the Consulate who knew the victim personally said he was shocked and saddened by the news as it was unexpected.

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He said Elmo, who had two young children with his wife, was apparently depressed over some personal or family problem.

Photo posted by Elmo on Facebook suggested an inner conflict

The source said the victim was an active and friendly person who was very helpful to members of the Filipino community, particularly distressed workers.

On one occasion, he personally escorted on a flight to Manila a cancer patient who had decided to go home.

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Elmo was a former driver who had worked in Hong Kong for many years until he married and became a resident, then set up his own sound studio and pub, said the source.

His Facebook account shows he was friends with several members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong, including Consul Bob Quintin.

Asked for a reaction, Consul Quintin said, “I was shocked when I heard about Elmo’s death last night. I can’t say I know him well, kasi I see him only during events where he happens to be the supplier for the sound system. Unfortunately, I have not been to his bar.

Elmo’s posts used to be about gigs at the sound studio and online radio station he used to operate, but recently shifted to rants about some personal problems and an apparent inner struggle.

On Feb. 22 he changed his profile picture with a poster saying, “I worked hard so I can give my family the life I never had.”

Consulate sources said the victim’s widow had yet to report the death to them.

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Infected Filipina could be released this week

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By The SUN

The lone Filipino Covid-19 patient is being treated at Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan

The lone Filipino to have contracted the new coronavirus (Covid-19) is expected to be released from hospital within this week after all her recent tests turned out negative, according to a statement from the Consulate.

The statement said the patient had called to inform the Consulate about the good news, and that she remains healthy. The Filipina patient is being treated at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.

Reports from the Hong Kong government had said the 32-year-old Filipina domestic worker was tested for the virus after her 67-year-old ward was found infected on Feb. 13. Initial tests on the Filipina yielded negative results, but a subsequent test showed she had the virus.

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The government statement said the Filipina must have been infected by her elderly ward, with whom she lived in Mt Parker Lodge in Quarry Bay.

The older woman’s infection was traced to a family dinner she had at the Star Seafood Restaurant in North Point on Jan. 26. Five other people there, including her 37-year-old son, also caught the virus.

The Filipina's employer caught the virus from this now-shuttered restaurant in North Point

The Filipina reportedly had a cough and cold in early February but did not feel unwell. On Feb. 9 she took a day off and hung out with 10 Filipina friends outside City Hall in Central.

Following a call from the government for her friends to also submit themselves to tests, one said on social media that the Covid-19 patient had already given their telephone numbers to health authorities.

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Each one was reportedly called and asked if they felt unwell. After learning that all of them had worn masks that day and did not share a meal, they were reportedly let off with an advice that they should have themselves checked if they started having symptoms.

To date, not one of the Filipina patient’s only close contacts during the 14-day incubation appears to have shown any signs of having the virus.

Meanwhile, the PCG says only three Filipinos –including the lone Covid-19 patient – remained in quarantine as of today, Jan 23. All are said to be healthy and asymptomatic and expected to be released within the week.

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Three other Filipinos have been released since Feb 15 after completing their 14-day mandatory quarantine.

As of today, four more people in Hong Kong have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the city's total to 74.

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New Labatt also asked to sign risk awareness declaration at NAIA

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By Vir B. Lumicao

New Labor Attache Mel Dizon pays courtesy call on Consul General Raly Tejada before buckling down to work

If you think only OFWs flying to Hong Kong are required to sign and submit a declaration that they are aware of the coronavirus risk before they can fly out, here’s what the new Philippine labor attaché says about his pre-departure experience.

Labatt Melchor B. Dizon said during an interview on his first day at work on Sunday, Feb 23, that he himself was asked for his declaration form at the immigration counter of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

He said there were no exemptions for diplomats like him and his papers were checked by the officer to find out if he was indeed allowed to travel.

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Labatt Dizon said he personally felt the impact of the epidemic that began in Wuhan City in China when he could not leave Manila soon after receiving his visa in the first week of February because he was overtaken by the travel ban to Hong Kong.

“Noong nagkaroon ng partial lifting, doon lang nakasama ang diplomats at kami nga hinihingian din…tinitingnan nga kung kami ay talagang authorized na mag-travel. Minsan nga ay hinihingian pa rin kami ng declaration,” he said.

“Buti na lang dala-dala ko lahat ng documents, ang resolution pa ng Interagency (Task force on Emerging Infectious Diseases), which is the basis ng aming exemption,” he said.

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He dismissed reports that the declaration form that all overseas Filipino workers must accomplish before being allowed to fly to Hong Kong and Macau must be notarized and approved by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

“Actually, hindi naman kailangan ang notarized, hindi naman kailangang magbayad… Kasi kapag sa POEA ang nag-notarize, wala namang bayad iyon. Gusto lang nilang pumunta roon para makita na sila ang nag-declare,” he said’

He said it was the Interagency Task Force’s decision to require the declaration, in which a departing worker states he is aware of the coronavirus epidemic in his destination. He described the declaration as a “safeguard” for the partial lifting of the ban.

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“Pero hindi ibig sabihin niyon ay wini-waive na ng government ang kanilang responsibility, kasi…talagang tutulungan ng gobyerno ang ating mga kababayan because that is our responsibility,” Labatt Dizon said.

The labor official received his marching orders to come to Hong Kong around November last year while he was the labor attaché in Greece. But he said he had to wait for his replacement before he could leave.

As the top labor representative in Athens, his jurisdictions covered the whole of Greece with some 20,000 Filipino workers, and the Greek half of Cyprus, which has about the same number of OFWs.

He said he conducted outreach missions for Filipinos in Cyprus all by himself.

Labatt Dizon buckled down to work on his first day in office.

Congen says he also briefed Labatt on the Consulate's priorities

After a courtesy call and lunch with Consul General Raly Tejada, who heads the Philippine mission in Hong Kong, he toured and observed activities in Polo and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Congen Tejada later told The SUN that Labatt Dizon is “surely capable and experienced. An asset to us all.”

Labatt Dizon also spent some time helping Assistant Labor Attaché Tony Villafuerte clear workers’ contracts piling up on the latter’s desk then squeezed in this interview before meeting with the Polo/OWWA staff.

He said his visit to PCG coincided with a meeting presided over by Congen Tejada to update officers on the latest developments in the Hong Kong contagion, and touched on the case of OFWs still stranded in the country.

He said he had no qualms about taking up his new post at this inauspicious time when Hong Kong is reeling from the new coronavirus infection.

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New Philippine labor attaché to HK set to take up post tomorrow

Posted on 22 February 2020 No comments

By The SUN

Labatt Dizon in Greece, his last overseas post before HK (photo from his Facebook account)

A senior official of the Department of Labor and Employment is set to take up the post of Philippine labor attaché to Hong Kong tomorrow, Feb. 23.

Lawyer Melchor B. Dizon, who previously served as labor attaché in Greece, Libya and Taiwan, will make a courtesy call on Consul General Raly Tejada in the morning, before assuming his post as head of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

Dizon arrived in Hong Kong from Manila Friday night. He hails from San Pablo, Laguna, and obtained his law degree from Arellano University.

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He worked at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) before serving as labor attache.

He was posted to Tripoli during the 2014 evacuation of Filipino nationals from Libya amid an outbreak of civil unrest. The year before, he brokered a deal that allowed Filipino nationals in Taiwan to get paid annual vacation. His last overseas posting was in Athens, Greece.

He takes over the position left vacant by the recall to Manila in July last year of popular labor attaché Jalilo dela Torre, who opted for retirement instead of taking up the offer to move to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Dela Torre was twice recalled by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for allegedly playing favorites with employment agencies, but Filipino community leaders staged widely publicized protests against the order.

In the latest case, Bello based his recall on a supposedly unauthorized deal brokered by Dela Torre to upgrade Polo’s 13-year-old online contract processing system.

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Assistant Labor Attache Antonio Villafuerte was appointed officer-in-charge at Polo pending the appointment of a new head.

Dizon takes over as top labor official in Hong Kong amid a worsening outbreak of the novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, which has left many OFWs vulnerable to discrimination and possible abuse, including being prevented from taking their weekly day-off.

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