3 Filipinos held for alleged trafficking of 35 kilos of marijuana

 

Some of the marijuana buds allegedly found in luggage of the 3 Filipinos

Three Filipinos – one male and two females – have been detained after a total of about 35 kilos of suspected marijuana buds were found inside their check-in suitcase on their arrival in Hong Kong on September 29..

The 32-year-old male and the two females, aged 24 and 31, had flown in from Bangkok, Thailand, where huge amounts of cannabis or marijuana buds have been brought in lately by incoming passengers on a regular basis.

Yesterday, two Mainland tourists – a man aged 40 and a woman aged 47 - were also detained after flying in from Bangkok through Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam with suspected marijuana in their suitcases, weighing 5 and 6 kilos respectively.

The total haul of 46 kilos or marijuana seized from the five passengers were said to have a total estimated value of HK$9.2 million.

The marijuana buds seized in second case

In addition to the marijuana haul allegedly found in their suitcases, the two Filipinas were also found to have brought with them a batch of products containing suspected Part 1 poisons (examples are prescription drugs like morphine, antibiotics and erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra, and nicotine products).

A statement released by Customs authorities said investigations into the three separate cases are continuing.

The statement also warned the public to stay alert and not take part in drug trafficking activities for monetary gain. They must not agree to carry prohibited substances, or any unknown items, for other people.

In the meantime, airport authorities will continue to carry out random checks on incoming passengers at Hong Kong airport as part of efforts to crack down on drug trafficking.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, drug trafficking carries with it a maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Possessing Part 1 Poison can result to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for two years. 

Any suspected drug trafficking activities may be reported to Customs' 24-hour hotline, 182 8080, or to  its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).    

 

 

Hygiene officials arrest 10 people, seize foods and goods at FDH haunts

 

Among those seized were items stored under a footbridge

A total of 10 people have been arrested over the past three weeks at various places frequented by foreign domestic helpers for suspected unlicensed hawking and causing obstruction in public places.

Seized during the operations were about two tons of goods, including cooked food, clothing items, bags and cosmetics. The items were either seized from illegal vendors or were left behind in public places by unknown people.

The crackdown on the illegal activities were carried out by officers of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department following an education and information campaign carried out in cooperation with consulates of FDH-sending countries.

As part of the effort, Philippine labor attache Cesar Chavez. Jr. appeared in a video reminding Filipino domestic workers not to violate their conditions of stay by engaging in illegal work such as providing manicure, pedicure and eyebrow trimming services, or hawking.

Since the end of the publicity campaign, the FEHD is said to have stepped up patrols and cleaning operations, issued more than 30 notices regarding unattended items, and removed more than 80 kilos of items stored on government land or obstructing passageways.

Setting up tents that obstruct public passageways is also prohibited

Those found to have set up tents in public places to store personal items were issued with notices and their cases referred to relevant departments for follow-up.

The FEHD stressed that FDHs engaging in illegal hawking are in breach of their conditions of stay and may be arrested and prosecuted.

Illegal work is punishable with a maximum penalty of two years in prison and HK$10,000 fine.

Goods seized from illegal hawkers

Employers are urged to remind their helpers to comply with the law and help maintain environmental hygiene by not hawking and blocking or storing personal items on government land.

Any suspected unlicensed hawking or other irregularities may be reported directly to the FEHD.

 

Overstaying tourist gets 14 months' jail for money laundering

 

 A Filipina tourist who overstayed for three years has been jailed for 14 months áfter pleading guilty to money laundering Tuesday at Eastern Court.  She admitted to allowing more than HK$1 million in criminal proceeds to enter and leave her bank account.

But an overstaying charge against Ann Mongcal, 42 years old and unemployed, remains pending with Chief Magistrate So Wai-tak adjourning the case to November 24.

Basahin ang detalye!

Mongcal’s first charge is dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 2541) and 25(3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes. Ordinance.

She was charged with handling a total of $1,009,470 Hong Kong currency in her bank account with the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited between March 8 and April 7, 2021, “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that (the) property, … in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence.…”

Mongcal’s second charge is breach of condition of stay –overstay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

She was charged with overstaying after her visitor’s visa expired on June 24, 2023, having been permitted by an Immigratio oficer to remain in Hong Kong for two weeks after he arrived, but stayed until her arrest last April 12.

Pinay fails in attempt to get further discount on sentence

 

Shatin Court

A Filipino HK resident was jailed for 15 months today after a postponement of her sentencing at the Shatin Court to give her a chance to help in prosecuting people who helped her commit two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Jessebri Questo, 48 years old, had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of violating Common Law, punishable under Section 1590(6) of the Crimes Ordinance, and promised to help prosecute those who helped her file fake documents resulting in visas being granted by Immigration officers to two persons.

But Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong said information provided by Questo, also known as Jessebel Questo Clarke, did not help the prosecution so no additional discounts were made in her sentence.

Basahin ang detalye!

The sentence consisted of seven months imprisonment for the first charge and 12 months for the second charge, with the two sentenced running at the same time except for three months from the first sentence to be added to the second.

In the first charge, Questo conspired together with Maria Chona Cagol and a person known as Homer Leonardo Herrera,  to defraud the director of Immigration of the government of the Hong Kong by dishonestly and falsely representing that she was hiring Cagol as a domestic helper.

The offense, committed between 2021 and May 28, 2022, induced the Immigration director and his officers to act contrary to their public duty, granting Cagol permission to remain in Hong Kong, in circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted, according to a complaint by Immigration.

In the second charge, Questo entered into a marriage with Shafoat Zaman, and by dishonestly and falsely representing to Immigration that the entries and remaining of Zaman in Hong Kong were for the purpose of visiting and reuniting with her.

The offense, which took place between an unknown day in 2022 and September 19, 2023 was committed in conspiracy with Zaman and Herrera to defraud the Immigration director and his officers.

Meanwhile, a domestic helper,  Loyda Consejo, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud but her sentence was put off to November11 to allow her to help prosecute individuals who helped her commit the offense.

She was out on bail of $1,000.

Consejo, 35 years old, admitted defrauding the Director of Immigration and his officers by dishonestly and falsely representing that her remaining in Hong Kong was to take up employment with Hong Ming Tak.

The offense took place between an unknown day in 2024 and September 17, 2024.

Filipino caregivers can be trained in HK, says Labatt Chavez

 

Labatt Chavez addressing OFWs who took part in OWWA Cup

Filipino migrant workers who are already in Hong Kong and want to train as live-in caregivers for the elderly may obtain the required training without having to go back home to the Philippines.

This was according to Labor Attache Cesar Chavez, Jr., who spoke on the side lines of the awarding ceremonies for the first OWWA Cup in Hong Kong, held at the OFW Global Center in Admiralty on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Basahin ang detalye!

Labatt Chavez said this has been made clear by the Philippine side during several talks held with Hong Kong officials on the new live-in caregiver scheme that will be rolled out at the start of next year.

He said they specifically made this request when the technical working committee made up by officials from both sides held a meeting on June 8, which focused on a possible collaboration on upskilling, re-skilling and certification of OFWs in Hong Kong.

Philippine and HK officials meet on upskilling program for OFWs

During the meeting, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief PY Caunan told Hong Kong government representatives of the Philippine government’s plan of providing training on site for Filipino domestic workers.

Officials of TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) who also took part in the talks briefed the Hong Kong delegation on its training programs and accreditation schemes which OWWA plans to implement in Hong Kong and other overseas posts.

Chavez said that while Filipino domestic workers may be allowed to train for caregiver jobs while in Hong Kong, they will still have to finish their contracts before moving on to the more specialized post that pays more.

Secretary Sun says foreign caregivers will be allowed in from next year

In an interview with reporters last week, Hong Kong Labour Minister Chris Sun said that live-in caregivers who will be hired from overseas will be paid a salary that is higher by 10 to 20% than the minimum wage given to foreign domestic helpers.

But he said they will be required to have at least three years of experience looking after an elderly, and must complete relevant training in their home country before flying in to assume their post.

The part to bring in foreign caregivers is part of the government's renewed effort to keep up with Hong Kong's rapidly ageing population. It is projected that in 20 years' time, about a third of the city's population will be aged 60 and above.

 

 

 

 

HK man jailed for 26 years in Phl on drug charges returns home

 

Tang (in red shirt) is met on his arrival in Hong Kong by his elder brother

A Hong Kong man who spent 26 years in jail in the Philippines after being found guilty of possessing nearly 8 kilos of the drug, “ice”, returned to Hong Kong early on Tuesday, accompanied by Immigration Department officers.

Tang Lung-wai, who is now 55, was met by his elder brother on his arrival from Manila. He was originally sentenced to life imprisonment in the Philippines.

In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Tang reportedly said when asked how he felt about being back home, "After spending 26 years in hell, I am unflappable."

Basahin ang detalye!

His family had sought help from Hong Kong authorities last month after being told that Tang’s sentence was considered to have been served after taking into consideration a good conduct time allowance. However, he could not be released immediately because of lengthy administrative procedures.

In a press release, the Immigration Department said that on learning that Tang had already completed his sentence, they immediately worked with the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines so he could be issued with the document needed for his release and repatriation.

Immigration officers were also sent to the Philippines to work on the repatriation arrangements and escort Tang back to the Hong Kong. 

Immigration officers accompanied Tang on his flight out of Manila

Philippine court records show that Tang was arrested by Philippine police officers on July 18, 2000, along with fellow Chinese nationals Cheung Tai On and Sek Hung Goh Patrick, during a raid on a condominium unit in Quezon City.

Found inside the unit was methamphetamine hydrochloride (ice or shabu in the Philippines) weighing a total of 7,918.90 grams.

Tang, Cheung ang Goh were subsequently charged with illegal drug possession in violation of Sec. 16, Article III of Republic Act No 6425 (as amended) and were put on trial after they denied the charge.

On Oct. 26, 2011 the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City found Tang and Cheung guilty as charged and sentenced to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Php500,000. Goh was acquitted for insufficiency of evidence.

The two appealed the decision, but the same was denied by the Court of Appeals on July 14, 2017. Tang’s appeal was dismissed for lack of merit, while Cheung’s was discharged on account of his death.

Tang then went on to lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court, citing alleged errors of facts and of law committed by the RTC and the CA. He claimed he had been framed, and was taken to the condominium unit after being arrested elsewhere.

Immigration officers set up a chat with Tang's family before his return 

But in a judgment handed down on Nov 17, 2019, the Supreme Court upheld the earlier decisions, saying that the considerable quantity of the drugs seized rendered Tang’s claim that they had been planted to frame him “difficult to believe.”

In the absence of strong and convincing evidence to the contrary, “the presumption of regularity in the performance of official duty and the principle that the findings of the trial court on the credibility of witnesses are entitled to great respect (and) should prevail over bare denials and self-serving claims,” said the SC.

The SC ordered the appellant to pay costs as a result of the dismissal.

(The full decision by the Philippine Supreme Court on the appeal can be found here:  https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/66124)

Pinoy acquitted of hurting two locals

 

Eastern Magistrate's Court 

A Filipino cook was acquitted today of inflicting grievous bodily harm on two locals after prosecutors at Eastern Court failed to prove he was the one responsible for their injuries.

Raynard Manaol, 20 years old, was acquitted of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Tiu Kai Yau in the early hours of December 26, 2025, outside Causeway Bay Plaza 2 on Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Lam Siu Ming Simon.

Manaol was accused of violating section 19 and 39 of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance, and the Common Law.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magistrate Gary Chu terminated the trial and cleared Manaol of both charges after concluding that the two major prosecution witnesses failed to positively identify Manaol as the one who caused their injuries.

The decision came after the defense lawyer cross examined the two victims and found out that they were both drunk after celebrating Christmas at a Wanchai bar, and were walking home when Tiu collided with one of a five-man group walking in the opposite direction.

In his testimony, Tiu identified the group as South Asians and he claimed to have been pushed down as he was apologizing. He admitted he could not identify the assailant. Lam made a similar testimony.

After the police arrived, both were taken to Ruttonjee Hospital where they made their police statements, while Manaol was arrested and brought to the police station.

4 tourists arrested for offering makeup, tour services

 

Makeup and photography equipment were seized from the tourists

Any kind of work, paid or unpaid, cannot be performed by anyone who is only permitted to enter Hong Kong as a visitor or tourist.

This was highlighted by the arrest on two consecutive days (September 27 and 28) by four Mainland visitors who were allegedly caught providing make-up, photo-taking and tour guide services in Hong Kong.

According to a statement issued by the Immigration Department, their officers were alerted to the suspected illegal work after the tourists advertised their services on social meia.

Basahin ang detalye!

A number of officers posed as customers so they could enquire about and book the services of the four arrested suspects. The four were reportedly arrested while providing the services.

The suspects were all women, aged 20 to 31.

Immigration said it will “consider” prosecuting the four for breaching their conditions of stay.

Immigration officers hand out flyers warning people not to hire illegal workers

As part of the anti-illegal work operations, police also distributed flyers which carried the warning, “Don’t employ illegal workers.”

Under Hong Kong laws, tourists, foreign domestic workers and other contract workers who are prohibited from taking unrelated work in Hong Kong, face a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, plus a fine of up to HK$50,000.

Aiders and abettors are equally liable, while employers face the much heftier fine of up to HK$500,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Employers are warned that they have an explicit duty to inspect the identity card and make enquiries about a job applicant to ensure the person is lawfully employable.

An immediate custodial sentence or jailing is prescribed for all cases.

The same prohibition was applied when a number of Filipino domestic workers who were offering beauty treatments such as manicure, pedicure and eyebrow trimming, were recently arrested on charges of breaching their conditions of stay.

Much earlier, a crackdown was also carried out on FDWs who were practising dentistry without a license.

 

 

Asylum seeker avoids jail for overstaying

 

Shatin Magistrates Court

An asylum seeker avoided jail today after pleading gulty at Shatin Court to overstaying in Hong Kong for two months.

Lourence Abecia, 38 years old, was actually sentenced by Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong to 16 days imprisonment, but suspended it for one year.

With this sentence, she will remain free as long as she behaves and does not commit another offense. If she does, however, she will serve the sentence along with the penalty for the new offense.

Basahin ang detalye!

Abecia was charged by the Imigration Department with breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

She was alleged to have contravened a condition of stay imposed on her by an Immigration officer, who limited her stay in Hong Kong until January 22, 2021 or two weeks after termination of contract, whichever is earlier, but she remained in Hong Kong on March 18, 2021.

She has since claimed non-refoulement which would, if granted, protect her from forcible deportatin to the Philippines.

The status of such claim was not specified.

Longtime Bayanihan admin Tess Ubamos passes on at 66

 

Hong Kong Bayanihan Center’s longtime administrator, Teresita “Tess” Ibañez-Ubamos, passed on after a lingering illness on September 25. She would have turned 67 on October 3 this year.

She is survived by her husband Ed, children Odessa, Rocky and Michael, and granddaughters Kisha and Kaitlyn.

Tess, as she was known to many, had managed the day-to-day operations of the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town since 2004, when it became the site for the first overseas voting for Filipinos in Hong Kong.

DETAILS HERE

She continued overseeing the massive operations involved in administering the manual casting and counting of ballots for the overseas vote every three years, until the switch to automated voting in 2022.

In her role as administrator of the six-floor Bayanihan Center, Tess became fast friends with many Filipino community leaders, as well as the hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who have done volunteer work, or have taken part in various events at the activities and training hub over the years.

Press for details

Officers of the Philippine Consulate and its attached agencies have also heaped praises on her, for having ably managed the center through more than two decades and thousands of events and training activities, despite its tight budget.

The Ubamos family at Bayanihan Center

Among the first to extend their condolences was the Bootstrap Theatre Hong Kong, which paid tribute to Tess’ generosity in providing them a venue for their rehearsals for their debut play last year, and for an intensive acting workshop they provided to OFWs.

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association Hong Kong, which has held some of its activities at the center, including the grand oath taking of its officers in March last year, has also expressed regret.

Basahin ang detalye!

“Tess was a true pillar of our community, a dedicated leader, and a wonderful friend who touched so many of our lives with her kindness and warmth,” said UPAA-HK’s president, Catherine Marsden.

Longtime residents who, like Tess and her family, have played an active role in the various activities of the Filipino Catholic community in Hong Kong, have also expressed sadness at her passing.

In an emotional Facebook post addressed to the Ubamos family, tech executive Jun Sison said, “We would like to embrace and comfort you - all of you - at this very moment, but we do understand that, for now, we can only offer prayers, yes - tears of empathy, and words of consolation hoping our deep sentiments, thoughts and words may even ever so slightly ease the pain you now feel in your hearts.”

Details of the funeral service for Tess have yet to be announced.

Overstaying elderly Pinoy gets 10 weeks in prison

 

Shatin Court

An elderly Filipino widower who is cancer-stricken has been sentenced at Shatin Court to 10 weeks in jail after pleading gulty to overstaying in Hong Kong for more than five years.

In sentencing A. Sison, 73 years old, last Friday (September 25) Magistrate Raymond Wong said: “Normally for this long period of overstay, the sentence is 20 weeks after deduction of discount for guilty plea. I will allow 10 weeks.”

DETAILS HERE

Sison had been charged with breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

In asking for a lenient sentence, his lawyer said Sison has suffered severely from his ailment and wants to return to the Philippines before it’s too late to see his three grown up children.

Press for details

When he arrived in Hong Kong as a tourist in August 2019, an Immigration Assistant limited his stay until August 26, 2019, but he remained in Hong Kong until his arrest on December 1, 2024.

He had told his lawyer that he originally came to Hong Kong to visit friends and relatives, but did not want to leave when the time came.

Basahin ang detalye!

He was diagnosed with lung cancer last March, which explained why he did not show up for his hearing last Sept. 1 as he had to be taken to a hospital.

This explanation resulted in Magistrate Wong cancelling an arrest warrant issued against him and ordering a return of his bail money.

OFWs taught how to spot fake news and online scams

 

VERA Files' Ellen Tordesillas says social media is replete with false information

A workshop recently held jointly by the Department of Migrant Workers and VERA Files taught overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) how to identify misinformation, verify online information and recognize digital scams.

In particular, the whole-day training held at the DMW office in Makati City on September 17equipped participants with practical skills on assessing online content and spotting illegal recruitment schemes.

The OFWs learned lateral reading (or a fact-checking strategy used to evaluate the credibility of a website or online author), Google Advanced Search techniques, reverse image search, and spotting red flags in online posts, including altered or AI-generated content.

DETAILS HERE

Lawyer Kristina Andal-Escosia of the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau spoke on fraudulent job offers, impersonation, fake recruitment accounts and other forms of online deception that target Filipinos seeking jobs abroad.

Participants were made to apply the verification techniques taught them earlier to distinguish between reliable information and false or misleading content.

VERA Files President Ellen Tordesillas gave an overview of how disinformation is spread online and why it is important for OFWs to ensure that the information that they get is reliable.

Press for details

Tordesillas said OFWs mainly rely on social media for information on what is happening back home, which unfortunately, is replete with lies, fake information, and half-truths.

“VERA Files is helping OFWs not to be victimized by empowering them with skills and knowledge to distinguish false from real news,” she said.

USec Pajarito says OFWs must verify information before sharing online

DMW Undersecretary Darlene R. Pajarito said that because of the proliferation of disinformation online, it is important for OFWs to verify information first before believing or sharing it online.

 “Kapag may nakita tayong post, hindi natin kailangang agad maniwala. At hindi rin naman natin kailangang agad ituring na mali. We can simply ask: ‘Totoo ba ito? Saan nanggaling? Paano natin mave-verify or masisiyasat?,”she said. (Whenever we see a post, we should not immediately believe in it, but we also should not reject it as false. We can simply ask, ïs this true? Where did it come from? How do we verify or check its veracity?)

Basahin ang detalye!

“That simple habit can make a real difference,” she added. “Because every time we verify before we share, we help protect not only ourselves, but also our families and our fellow Filipinos.

Also among the speakers was Jocel de Guzman of Scam Watch Pilipinas who introduced the Quad Model, which has been adopted by the Department of Information and Communication Technology as the official national anti-scam education and awareness strategy.

The four components of the Quad Model are behavioral change (or anti-scam attitude), volunteer watcher program in communities, schools as workplaces, cross-sector collaboration among government bodies, law enforcers, telcos and banks, and technology-enabled reporting through such apps as eGovPH, Scam Vault PH, and Whoscall.

Participants were encouraged keep in mind the reminder, “Magdamot, Magduda, Mang-isnab, at Magsumbong sa 1326” when faced with suspicious messages, calls or online offers.

 

Deported Pinoy using 4 names charged in DC

 

Jewelry store where theft was allrgedly committed

A Filipino tourist who returned to Hong Kong 10 years after being deported, has been transferred to the District Court as penalties for offenses he was accused of exceeded the limit that a magistracy such as the West Kowloon Court can impose.

Cezar Raiz, 74 years old and also known as Rodrigo C Balajadia, Mario Macaspac and Gregorio Nolasco, is charged with theft contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, and breach of deportation order, contrary to section 43(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance.

DETAILS HERE

Principal Magistrate Don So, in a hearing on Thursday (September 24), set his transfer to the District Court on November 13.

In the meantime, So ordered him remanded in jail.

Raiz was charged with stealing 22 pendants belonging to Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Limited on December 14, 2025, at the Chow Tai Fook shop on 621-623 Nathan Road, Mong Kok.

Press for details

During investigation, his fingerprints matched with those taken from a man under another name who was issued a deportation order dated February 13, 1995 and still in force.

Raiz confirmed to police he was the same man.

Meanwhile, So rejected the guilty plea of an 82-year-old Filipino after the latter added that he just forgot to pay for the three items he was accused of stealing from a ParkNShop store in Discovery Bay.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magistrate So told Eliberto Evangelista: “I cannot accept your guilty plea.”

So adjourned the case to October 26 for trial, and set his bail at $1,000.

Evangelista is accused of theft contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, for allegedly stealing one bottle of eye drops, one bottle of soy sauce and one pack of mustard with a total value of $119.