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."

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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)

Cebu Pac increases hand-carry bag allowance to 10kg

 

The new allowance applies to 5J flights only

Cebu Pacific will increase its hand-carry baggage allowance starting September 15, from seven kilos to 10 kilos for main airline (5J) flights, including those serving Hong Kong, the airline has announced.

In a customer advisory issued Friday (September 11), Cebu Pacific said the weight limit will apply to the combined weight of the overhead luggage measuring up to 56 by 36 by 23 centimeters, and one handbag or computer bag that can fit  under the seat.

DETAILS HERE

Any hand carry items exceeding the specified weight or size restrictions will be checked into the hold and subjected to applicable baggage fees, it said

Travelers must be able to comfortably lift and stow their carry-on luggage unassisted, the airline said.

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The updated policy applies to main-line Cebu Pacific flights, while subsidiary Cebgo will maintain its existing seven-kilogram cabin limit, the airline said.

To minimize delays at boarding gates, the airline encouraged passengers to pre-purchase baggage allowances available up to 2 hours before departure via the Cebu Pacific App or Manage Booking portal.

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Passengers are allowed up to 3 checked bags, whose base allowance starts at 20 kilos per piece, with upgrade increments of 4 kilos (available in 20 kilos, 24 kilos, 28 kilos, or up to 32 kilos per bag).

If a luggage is lost, damaged, or delayed, the passenger must report it immediately to any Cebu Pacific ground staff, or via our the Cebu Pacific app or website, so that proper action or compensation can be made..

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Compensation for delayed luggage, for example, is Php2,000 for every 24 hours of delay. If checked baggage is not delivered within 24 hours, the applicable baggage fees will be refunded.

CFO, Customs link up to ease concerns over balikbayan boxes

 

Ang and Nepomuceno shake hands over the deal

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have signed an agreement to help provide Filipinos abroad with information and assistance on problems relating to balikbayan boxes, humanitarian donations and other shipment concerns.

CFO chairperson Dante Ang II and BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno signed the document formalizing the agreement yesterday.

Secretary Ang said the partnership will assure Filipinos overseas of an avenue to obtain accurate information about their shipments and which government offices to approach for assistance.

DETAILS HERE

“The problem is the lack of information. Through our existing networks and continuing dialogue with them, we can make sure they know who they can trust, what procedures to follow, and which BOC offices they can approach when they need assistance,” Ang said.

Before the agreement, Ang said the CFO had used regular press releases, posts on social media platforms, community engagements and overseas networks to inform Filipinos abroad about customs procedures, legitimate service providers, and the appropriate BOC offices to contact.

All these efforts are expected to be strengthened with the BOC’s active involvement.

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Customs Commissioner Nepomuceno emphasized the importance of the new alliance, saying many OFs send balikbayan boxes on a regular basis to family members back in the Philippines.

“Through this partnership, we want to ensure that they have access to reliable information on customs requirements, proper shipping practices, and available government assistance whenever concerns arise,” Nepomuceno said.

Their agreement comes amid mounting problems about boxes being abandoned in container vans at various ports, including Manila, Cebu and Davao, mainly because freight forwarders failed to pay for port storage, handling and shipping fees.

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Other problems include pilferage and damage to boxes, with forwarding companies refusing to cover losses. Another common problem is the inordinate delay in the delivery of the boxes, made more serious by the lack of local tracking, tampering and damage.

To alleviate customers’ concerns, the government has at times intervened to get abandoned boxes sent to recipients at no extra cost, or if they remain stuck in overseas warehouses, find another company that would take over the shipment and delivery in the Philippines.

A Citi Express customer posted these photos of the boxes which she said were being delayed 

But the problems remain. Most recently in Hong Kong, a number of overseas Filipino workers sought help from various government agencies to track and recover boxes they sent through a company called Citi Express Cargo Services as early as November last year.

The complainants said on the company’s Facebook page that the company staff have been promising them for months that their boxes would arrive soon, but they never did.

Others said, however, that their boxes did arrive, but only after months of delay.

Under their agreement with CFO, the BOC will provide updated guidance on customs laws and procedures, regulated goods, documentation, duties and taxes, exemptions, permits, clearances, and other requirements.

In turn, the CFO will disseminate the information through its various platforms which they use to engage Filipinos who are abroad.The CFO chief added that the agreement should also prove useful to overseas Filipinos extending humanitarian assistance and donations to communities and institutions in the Philippines through programs such as LINKAPIL.

Arrest warrants served on VP Duterte, Romualdez

 

Police just released this mugshot of Romualdez taken during his hospital arrest on Monday

Philippine political rivals Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez have both been served warrants of arrest three days apart, on Saturday and Monday.

In the latter case, Romualdez was arrested Monday while confined at Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center in San Juan City, on at least 15 counts of graft, involving at least Php7.44 billion. The offences are non-bailable.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said doctors at the hospital said Romualdez suffered from a cardiovascular “event” with unstable blood pressure, and he was having an anxiety attack.

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Despite this, the police served him the warrant issued by the third division of the Sandiganbayan and put him through booking procedures, including having his mugshot taken with the orange detainees’ shirt placed on top of his hospital gown.

Romualdez is charged along with Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and two others with  “repeatedly receiving, directly or indirectly, on at least fifteen (15) occasions, commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks, ‘commitments’ and/or other pecuniary benefits” worth at least P7.44 billion. 

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The amount allegedly came from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and/or other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025. This was after Romualdez was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives shortly after his first cousin, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. took office.

Romualdez through his lawyers,  is asking the Sandiganbayan to let him remain at the hospital after his arrest, citing his “documented cardiac history,”diabetes and primary hypothyroidism, among other ailments.

VP Sara holding up a copy of her arrest warrant as she posted court bail

Earlier on Saturday, Vice President Sara Duterte personally appeared at a Quezon City court to post a Php360,000 bail to secure her liberty after a warrant of arrest was issued against her for allegedly issuing grave threats against President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Romualdez.

Duterte, who failed to get the court to defer or recall the warrants, was accompanied by her lawyers and a few supporters when she posted bail of Php120,000 on each of the three charges.

The charges resulted from Duterte’s remarks during an online press conference in November that she had spoken with an assassin and instructed him to kill Marcos, his wife and cousin, if she were killed. She has denied threatening them.

The alleged threats form part of the allegations in the impeachment complaint against her which is now being tried by the Philippine Senate. The complaint also alleges that she had misused public funds amounting to Php612.5 million while vice president and former secretary of education.

A conviction could remove her from office and prevent her from pursuing her bid to run as president in 2028.

 

New Balikbayan Act gets boost from DMW

 

Senator Raffy Tulfo and DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac

A Senate bill to enact the New Balikbayan Act to provide comprehensive government assistance to returning OFWs in settling into productive lives in the Philippines, has received support from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

DMW said it “supports the goal of further strengthening mechanisms for long-term and comprehensive support for OFWs, especially in the midst of ongoing regional conflicts and geopolitical trends where it is important that assistance does not end with financial and repatriation assistance, but continues until they start anew in the Philippines.”

The New Balikbayan Act or Senate bill 2423 under discussion at the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, seeks to activate assistance six months before they come home. 

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It prescribes DMW assistance in:

• Education: Training and knowledge building.
• Psychosocial Support: Mental health and personal counseling.
• Entrepreneurship: Business startup guidance.
• Employment: Local job placement assistance

PINDUTIN DITO

Committee Chairperson Senator Raffy Tulfo said in a statement: “Today, our National Reintegration Network merely acts like an ‘emergency room’ rather than a recovery center. Many returning OFWs are still losing their savings due to fraudulent investments and fraudulent business deals.”

He noted some OFWs who, despite high positions and skills acquired abroad, end up unemployed or underemployed due to incorrect job matching, as well as those who experience psychological trauma that affects their ability to work.

The bill seeks to expand reintegration services, access to livelihood assistance, and support system for returning migrant workers and their families.

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Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said: “Our OFWs spent years making sacrifices for their families and our country. As they return home, they deserve the opportunity to build a better future. With this law, we [at the Department of Migrant Workers] stand ready to fully implement it and support our returning workers every step of the way.”

DMW added that its swift passage will help institutionalize ongoing reintegration reforms, ensure their sustainability, and provide a stronger framework for government-led action through the National Reintegration Network.

“Our OFWs should not have to come home and start empty. The Bagong Balikbayan Act will help ensure that reintegration begins early and connects returning OFWs to real opportunities for a more secure future,” Secretary Cacdac added.

“Under Republic Act No. 11641, there is already a reintegration program implemented by the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). However, the bill will provide a stronger and more permanent foundation,” DMW said.

Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, principal sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives, appealed to the Senate to swiftly pass the Bagong Balikbayan Act.

Acidre underscored the urgency of institutionalizing programs that help OFWs transition back into local employment, entrepreneurship, and community life after years of working abroad.

Saturday services at PCG to celebrate SSS anniversary

Hong Kong will be one of two overseas posts chosen to host SSS Global Kabayan Day, which will be held on September 12-13 in celebration of the Social Security System’s 69^th anniversary.

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On Saturday, September 12, the Philippine Consulate will hold a special Saturday session from 9am to 12 noon, during which Filipinos can avail of the its usual services, from passport application processing to the issuance of overseas employment certificates.

A meeting with leaders of the Filipino community has also been set for the day.

On the same day and the following day, September 13, SSS will also provide services to its members, in particular, on how they can obtain the MySSS Card, the new SSS ID that is equipped with an EMV chip, and can be used for SSS transactions.

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A new program called LoanLite, will also be launched. The new service aims to provide quick loans of up to Php20,000 at low interest to members.

SSS Global Kabayan Day will also be held in Barcelona, Spain, where the government-run social insurance program will open its 17^th overseas branch.

 

 

Peso hits new record low of P62.565 vs US$

The peso dropped to new record low two days in a row

The Philippine peso has continued its downward slide, posting a new all-time low of Php62.565 against the US dollar on Wednesday, September 2.

(This resulted in the peso dippling to its lowest level of Php7.97 to the HK dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar).

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The peso earlier hit an all-time low of P62.69 against the greenback in intraday trading, before clawing back up at the close of trade.

The peso previously closed at a record low of Php62.40 against the US$1 the previous day, September 1.

The HKD which is pegged to the USD is close to hitting 8:1 to the peso

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona had earlier said that the central bank was monitoring the foreign exchange market, after the Philippine peso breached the Php62 barrier. It sank to Php62.265 vs the US dollar on Friday, Aug 28.

The weakened peso means the price of imported commodities like oil will rise even more, which in turn could push up inflation and local prices.

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Conversely the stronger dollar will initially benefit families of overseas Filipino workers who will get more peso for their dollar. But the rising prices in the country could also trim their purchasing power. 

Recruiters who keep passports may be liable for illegal recruitment, says DMW

 

A passport may only be kept by the person to whom it was issued

The advisory was straightforward. Recruiters, licensed or not, should not confiscate or keep passports of job applicants.

This was according to a post on the Facebook page of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons Report).

A recruiter who keeps the job applicant’s passport may be considered as having violated the law against illegal recruitment under RA 8042, as amended by RA 10022.

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Section 6 (k) of the said law includes in the list of acts that may constitute as illegal recruitment the following: To withhold or deny travel documents from applicant workers before departure for monetary or financial considerations, or for any other reasons, other than those authorized under the Labor Code and its implementing rules and regulations.

The prescribed penalty for illegal recruitment is imprisonment for not less than 12 years but not more than 20 years, and a fine of not less than Php1million but not more than Php2 million.

The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than Php2 million and not more than Php5 million shall be imposed if the illegal recruitment is large-scale, or where there are at least three victims.

Keeping somebody else's passport is also prohibited under the Philippines' Passsport Law, which says all passports are properties of the national government, and may be kept only by person under whose name it was issued.

The advisory further stated that if the recruiter confiscates the passport, the job applicant must insist on taking it back, or report the case immediately to the Department of Migrant Workers.

DMW's passport advisory carries an image of ''Sol'' the cat

The reactions to the advisory, however, showed that agents routinely withholds passports before deployment, or in the Middle East especially, they take it back again upon arrival at the country of destination, and turned over to the employer.

One said: “Andami pong mga agency na kumukuha ng passport, can I mention them here base sa naranasan ko? Grabe may mga agency pa na kapag mag withdraw ka ng docs may bayad na 1000.” (There are so many agencies that keep passports, can I mention them here based on my experience? It’s terrible, some agencies even charge you 1,000 if you withdraw your documents).

Another said: “Local or international, sa oras ng pag aapply, hawak na nila ang passport. Mahahawakan lang (ng worker) pag nag flight na. At pagdating sa employer kukunin din. Kasi isip nila kailangan nila kunin ang passport para di tumakas si kadama. LNG pag nagfligth na. At pag dating sa employer kukunin din. Kasi isip nila kailangan nila kunin ang passport para di tumakas si kadama. At pag ibinalik ng amo si kadama sa agency, kukunin din ng agency ang passport.”

(Whether for local or international deployment once a job seeker applies with an agency they will take the passport away. The worker can only get it back upon boarding their flight to the job site. And once they get to the employer’s house the passport is again taken away. That’s because they do not want the kadama or worker to escape. But once the employer brings the worker back to the agency, it is the agency that takes it for safekeeping).

Still another worker asked, “Paano po kung kinukuha ng employer ng mga OFW, ano po ang dapat gawin ng OFW? Kung magsasabi po ba sa agency ay magkaka aksyon at babawiin ito sa amo? Kung hindi pinansin ng agency ano po gagawin ng DMW/OWWA/Embassy? Magbibigay po ba sila ng advice sa mga agency at amo?

(What if the OFW’s employer takes it, what should the OFW do? If the worker informs the agency, will action be taken, or will the agency get it back from the employer? If the agency does not do anything, what will the DMW/OWWA/Embassy do? Will they advise the agency and employer not to withhold the passport?)

To report on the illegal confiscation of passports, email info@dmw.gov.ph or call the emergency hotline 1348. You may also scan the QR code in the attached poster.

 

Suspected illegal recruiter for New Zealand jobs arrested in Iloilo

 

DMW posted this blurred photo of Robejes 

Getting to your dream work destination abroad does not mean the path you took to get there was legal or safe.

This realization came a bit late for a group of Filipinos who claimed to have paid between Php100,000 to Php300,000 each to get to New Zealand last year, where they were promised jobs in different professions or industries.

Those who couldn’t pay the amount charged were referred to a lending company by Paragon Visa Consultancy, which recruited them for the supposed jobs, so they could immediately pay up, and leave the country

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But on arrival in New Zealand, they were dismayed to learn that there was no job waiting for them, or the job they eventually got was not the one promised them by Paragon.

They later learned that the authorities in New Zealand raided the Auckland house of Julie Pearl Robejes, who was known to them as the one behind Paragon, on suspicion of engaging in recruitment activities without a license.

Do not transact with visa consultancies that offer jobs abroad

Hearing this, some decided to just go back to the Philippines, while the others decided to stay on in New Zealand and take on temporary jobs.

Thirteen of them filed formal complaints of syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa againt Robejes with the Department of Migrant Workers, which pursued their cases with the court.

On Mar 23 this year the Regional Trial Court in Iloilo issued warrants of arrest against Robejes and two of her staff, but it wasn’t until the evening of Aug 13 that she was arrested by police in La Paz, Iloilo.

While in police custody, Robejes suffered persistent stomach ache that she had to be rushed to St Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City on Aug 16. She has since recovered.

At the moment she is at the Female Custodial Facility while awaiting the final disposition and turnover of her case to the court.

DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau is calling on others who might have been victimized by Robejes and her associates to reach out to them through https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip so they can be given legal assistance.

Alternatively they can go directly to the DMW or to the nearest police station and file a complaint.

 

 

Illegal recruiter allegedly scammed 1,700 Filipinos

 

Czech Republic is one of European countries offering range of jobs to Filipinos (File)

A Filipino who was arrested last July 20 in Mexico, Pampanga, allegedly scammed no fewer than 1,700 people who paid between Php80,000 and Php130,000 to secure non-existent jobs in Europe.

Mazhoor U. Khusin, also known as “Maz” is suspected of being the mastermind in the massive illegal recruitment scheme that offered permanent residency in several countries in Europe which was supposed to serve as their pathway to work.

Initial investigations reportedly revealed that the victims were reeled in by posts saying there were only “few slots left” for the offered jobs, and that all they needed was a Schengen visa to be able to work.

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The jobs ranged from working in factories, farms or hotels in Poland, Lithuania or the Czech Republic.

Following the arrest, Khusin was served with around 30 warrants of arrest on charges of illegal recruitment in a large scale, which is a non-bailable offense.

The license of the recruitment firm, ALJU International Manpower Services, Inc. was also canceled after it was found to be linked to the alleged recruitment scam.

According to reports, Khusin served as an officer of ALJU, which previously faced regulatory sanctions for misrepresenting employment opportunities, excessive placement fees, and failure to reimburse or refund affected applicants.

The Department of Migrant Workers again warned jobseekers to be always wary of offers of high salaries and permanent residency in counties abroad, and assurances of quick deployment.

Before handing over money, job applicants should first check with the Department of Migrant Workers if the employment agency is licensed to recruit Filipinos for jobs overseas. 

To report suspected illegal recruitment activities, contact the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip, by email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph, or by calling their hotline at +63 2 8721-0619 for legal assistance in filing cases.

 

Illegal recruiter for Singapore job jailed 14 years & fined P1M

 

The accused charged victim Php737,357 for the fake job

A Filipino man who charged a job applicant more than Php700,000 for a non-existent job as nursing aide in Singapore has been sentenced to between 14 and 16 years in prison by a Regional Trial Court judge in Caloocan City.

Roderick R. Paculdar was also fined Php1 million and ordered to pay back the victim Php737,357 with 6 % interest every year.

According to the findings of the court, the complainant paid the money to Paculdar from March to April 2024 after he promised to work on her deployment to Singapore.

PINDUTIN PARA
SA DETALYE

The victim sought help from the Department of Migrant Workers when Paculdar failed to make good on his promise to secure the job for her.

Upon checking, the Migrant Workers Bureau of the DMW found that the accused was not connected to a licensed recruitment agency, nor was he licensed on his own to recruit or deploy Filipinos for work abroad.

When Paculdar again asked for an additional Php6,500 from the victim, the DMW took her to the Caloocan City Police, which set up an entrapment operation on Apr 18, 2024 outside a Jollibee outlet at the SM City mall in the city.

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Police operatives recovered the marked money from Paculdar after the sting operation was revealed.

The court found Paculdar guilty of illegal recruitment under the Labor Code and Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by RA No 10022.

In a statement, the DMW again reminded overseas job applicants to ensure that the recruiter or recruitment agency they are dealing with is licensed before making any payment. In case of any suspicious job offers, the DMW must immediately be informed.