The SUN HK : 7 more HK OFWs complain of missing luggage on Cebu Pac flights

By Daisy CL Mandap

There are now at least 9 Filipinas whose luggage did not arrive with them in Hong Kong (File)

At least seven other Filipina domestic workers who flew into Hong Kong from the Philippines on board Cebu Pacific flights recently have complained about their luggage getting lost in transit.

They shared their stories after The SUN reported two similar cases involving Filipina helpers earlier, one of whom eventually managed to recover her bag, but not the other.

The latest cases include one that dates back to Jan. 27, in which the owner traveled from Cagayan de Oro City to Manila via Cebu Pac flight no 5J384, and then on to Hong Kong on flight 5J112.

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Shiela Mae Gonzales said she immediately filed a claim about her missing luggage on arriving at Hong Kong International Airport, but has yet to receive a reply from the airline on what has been done to retrieve her baggage.

“Yung kapatid ko po nag email sa Cebu Pacific, tapos nag reply naman pero wala pa ring action,” said Gonzales. “Sabi nila after 48 hours ay babalikan ako pero wala pa rin.” (My sister sent an email to Cebu Pacific and received a reply but they have not taken any action. They said they would get back to me after 48 hours but nothing came out of it).

“Pati amo ko nga nag email din sa Cebu Pacific at sa Hong Kong Airport pero wala pa rin.” (Even my employer sent an email to Cebu Pacific and the Hong Kong Airport but failed to achieve anything).

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Asked about the complaints, Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific’s vice president for marketing and customer experience, said in reply to an email that she was looking into the complaints, and would “get back to you shortly.”

Consul Paul Saret, who heads the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, also said he would personally make representations with the airlines on behalf of the passengers.

In the meantime, the distraught passengers say they seem to be going in circles, not knowing who should take responsibility for their missing bags.

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Michelle V. Consumo, whose luggage did not arrive with her in Hong Kong on Jan 4, said she has been calling Jardine’s, the luggage handler at Hong Kong International Airport, but is always told that they are “still chasing” after her bag.

Her employer has also sent emails to complain about the missing bag, but has gotten nowhere.

Consumo said that her luggage contained medicines she needed to take. “Gumastos na nga ako dito para sa gamot na pinabili ko pero hindi ako hiyang kaya naospital ako. Kare-recover ko lang ngayon.” (I ended up spending money on replacement medicines that did not work for me so I ended up in the hospital. I just recovered).

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She added, “Sobrang na stress ako sa luggage kung yun, mga personal kong gamit at iba pang importanteng bagay ang nandun.” (I have been under so much stress because of that luggage as it contains my personal things and other important objects).

Consumo said she took a connecting flight to Hong Kong from Manila on 5J272 after departing from Iloilo, all on the same day.

One passenger who got lucky was Laila A. Dela Justa, whose luggage went missing on Jan. 12 after she flew from Naga City, then took a connecting flight in Manila to Hong Kong, all on Cebu Pacific.

After asking for help in recovering her bag, she messaged that she had already recovered her bag on Thursday, Jan. 19, after Cebu Pacific told her that it had been located.

“Sana makuha din noong ibang pasahero ang kanilang mga luggage na hindi dumating,” she said. (I hope the other passengers also manage to recover their bags).

Earlier, another passenger, J. A. Palomar, also reported having recovered her bag, nine days after she landed in Hong Kong without it.

But another Filipina whose bag was mislaid on Jan 4 is still waiting for the airline to find it and bring it to her in Hong Kong.

Elsa Faye Agoncillo said she kept calling the airlines in both Manila and Hong Kong, and also Cebu Pacific’s office, but no one could tell her where her luggage could have ended up.

Agoncillo estimated she lost a total of $8,000 as her luggage was new, and all her favorite clothes were there, including branded items given her by her employer.

But at least one passenger whose luggage went missing took Philippine Airlines, and her bag appeared to have been switched somewhere on her way to Hong Kong on Jan. 15.

Kristine D. Pasadas said she took PAL flight PR2970 in Kalibo, Aklan, and her luggage was supposed to be checked through to her flight from Manila to Hong Kong, PR306, on the same day.

“Yung nangyari po kasi ay may unclaimed baggage dito sa Hong Kong airport at nang tiningnan ko po yun ay pangalan ko ang nakalagay pero hindi akin yung bagahe. Baka sa Kalibo airport yung mali, nagkabaligtad yung paglagay nila ng sticker sa bagahe.”

(What happened was that there was an unclaimed baggage in Hong Kong airport and when I checked it was my name that was there but it was not my luggage. The mistake must have happened at Kalibo airport, they could have switched the baggage tags).

Pasadas said she called Kalibo airport and was told they would investigate. Recently she also called Hong Kong airport to check but they did not have any update on her missing bag.

Three days ago she said she personally went to Chek Lap Kok airport but was again told there was no trace of her bag. “Five days na,” she lamented.

When The SUN first reported on the missing bags at least two other Filipina domestic workers commented that they had the same plight.

One, called Rose Nhengskie said, “Ako din Jan 5 ako nag flight, hanggang ngayon wala pa, 11 days na,” said one. “Tumawag ako sa Cebu Pacific, sabi tatawagan ako, wala naman.” (Me, too, I flew in on Jan 5 but until now my bag is still missing, it’s been 11 days already. I called Cebu Pacific and they said they would call me, but they never did).

“Lahat ng laman ng bagahe ko sinabi ko na, wala namang response. Nag email na ako, wala pa din. Tapos dito sa airport may binigay sa akin na form, may hotline at email (address) wala namang kasagutan.” (I told them everything that was in my bag, but there has been no response. I sent an email, again, I got nowhere. Then here at HK Airport I was given a form with a hotline and email address, but no one replied to me).

“Ubos ang load ko katatawag, busy ang mga hotline na binigay….Wala na mga laman, bulok na. Ipa Tulfo na natin guys para gumising ang Cebu Pacific…2 kaming Pinay sa flight 5J114 ang nawalan ng bagahe noong Jan. 5”. (I’ve used up all my load making calls, the hotline I was given was always busy. All the things inside my bag are now all rotten. Let’s get Tulfo (Senator Raffy Tulfo) involved so Cebu Pacific would wake up. There were two of us Filipinas on flight 5J114 who lost our bags on Jan. 5)

Another one who uses the name Jryk Yoma said, “Jan 6 ako, same tayo, tawag ako nang tawag, walang sagot, rin lang. (Nag) Gmail ako, no paki din. Kaloka, 9 days na today. Pumunta ako kahapon sa airport, hatid lang daw talaga nila pag dumating na.”

(Mine got lost on Jan. 6. We had the same experience. I kept calling, but got no answer. I sent an email, to no avail. This is crazy, it has been nine days. I went to the airport yesterday, they said they would just send it me if it arrives).

Given the aggravation that they have suffered, it’s amazing that these Filipinas only want their bags back. The least that the airlines could do is make the extra effort to locate their luggage, and appease them in the meantime.

But a compensation should also be part of their way of saying “sorry.”