Tulfo seeks reimbursement for offloaded passengers, scrapping of travel tax

 

Passengers leaving Manila airport face the longest wait at the immigration counters

Senator Raffy Tulfo has filed a bill that will reimburse Filipino travellers who are offloaded or barred from boarding their flights at Philippine airports because of unjust and prolonged questioning by officers of the Bureau of Immigration.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, said Senate Bill No 1657 or the “Passenger Protection and Reimbursement for Deferred Departures Act,” seeks to provide relief to passengers who fail to catch their flights due to inordinate delays at the immigration counters.

“Prolonged immigration interviews … have resulted in Filipino passengers missing their scheduled flights despite the absence of a formal court order,” Tulfo said.

In many of these cases, passengers are not even given a clear explanation as to why immigration officers are taking a long time in clearing them for their flight.

The bill does not cover passengers who lack required documents, those with court orders preventing them from leaving the country, those linked to human trafficking offenses.

eTravel and travel tax payment are required of most passengers departing from the Philippines

Earlier, Tulfo also filed Senate Bill No 88 which provides for the scrapping of the travel tax for Filipinos who are travelling on economy class, but not for those on business or first class.

The tax, which is imposed on most passengers traveling out of the Philippines, amounts to t Php1,620 per passenger on economy and business class, and Php2,700 for first-class passengers.

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Certain groups like overseas Filipino workers, Filipino residents abroad, foreign diplomats, are exempted from paying the tax, while reduced rates apply for children aged up to 11 years old, and dependents of OFWs.

Tulfo said the levy imposes an “undue financial burden” on travelers already paying various taxes, including income and consumption taxes.

“It cannot be denied that the ordinary Filipino traveler, particularly those who travel on economy class, bears an undue financial burden because of travel tax,” Tulfo said.

He clarified that his bill does not seek to abolish the travel tax for all.

“It merely introduces a more equitable structure by retaining the imposition of travel tax on passengers traveling via business class or higher, whose financial standing affords them greater capacity to contribute to national development,” he said.

Proceeds from the tax goes to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Commission on Higher Education, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

9 people arrested in latest crackdown on illegal work

 

2 of those arrested are led to an Immigration van

A week-long operation mounted by the Hong Kong Police to flush out illegal workers has resulted in the arrest of nine people, eight of them suspected illegal workers and one employer.

The suspects comprised two men and six women aged 32 to 57. They were detained during raids conducted from Jan 9 to 15 in multiple locations, including wet markets, hair salons and retail stores.

Among them, one man and one woman were found to hold recognizance papers which allow them to stay in Hong Kong as asylum seekers, but not to work.

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Their suspected employer who is aged 32, remains under investigation by Immigration authorities, who did not rule out further arrests.

Immigration warned that anyone found to have violated the condition of their stay in Hong Kong by taking up work, whether paid or unpaid, shall be prosecuted and upon conviction, be subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years in prison.

Those who are found to have overstayed their visas or entered Hong Kong illegally are meted a more severe penalty.

“As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business,” said the Immigration statement.

“Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment.”

In addition, section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance provides that the Chief Executive may order the deportation of the offender, and prohibit the person from returning to Hong Kong in future, if the offense committed is punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.

Employing an illegal immigrant is a more serious offence for which the maximum sentence is imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of $500,000.

“According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment,” said Immigration.

The director, manager, secretary or other officers of the company that knowingly hired, or failed to make enough effort to ascertain the visa status of the illegal worker, may also be prosecuted.

The High Court has prescribed immediate custodial sentence for the employer of an illegal worker under sentencing guidelines prescribed for the offence.

 

6 months’ jail for Pinoy who found credit card and used it

 

First purchase was made in this store (Google Maps photo)

An unemployed Filipino was jailed for six months for stealing a credit card and then using it five times to buy inexpensive items, spending a total of $673, after he was convicted of six counts of theft today at Eastern Court.

J. Padua, 58 years old and a Hong Kong resident, had earlier pleaded guilty on all counts and thus received a one-third discount on the nine-month starting point set by Principal Magistrate David Cheung for each of the six offenses, which he ordered to run at the same time.

Magistrate Cheung also ordered Padua, who had four previous convictions, to pay a compensation of $673.00 by Feb. 16 to the credit card’s owner, Lai Kwan-chor.

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The first case of Cheung violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, arose after Padua found Lai’s lost credit card on Nov. 30, 2024 and kept it.

On the same day, he used the credit card to: 

• buy merchandise valued at $95 at a 7-Eleven store in Bo Fung Gardens, King's Road, Quarry Bay.
• buy merchandise worth $10.50 at a 7-Eleven store at Fok Cheong Building on King's Road, Quarry Bay.
• buy merchandise worth $10.00 at a 7-Eleven store on Bo Fung Gardens.
• buy merchandise worth $98.00 at a 7-Eleven store on Hoi Kwong Court, Hoi Kwong St., Quarry Bay.
• buy items worth $459 at Free Running Shop at Provident Centre on Wharf Road, North Point.

In the same hearing, Magistrate Cheung imposed a $300 fine on L. Mendoza, 43 years old and former domestic helper, after she rejected his offer of free duty lawyer services and admitted shoplfting two boxes of coffee worth $59.80 from the AEON Supermarket, G/F, Kornhill Plaza (South) in Quarry Bay.

Cheung had earlier asked Mendoza why she was unrepresented when he advised her in the previous hearing to go to the Duty Lawyer Service. He offered to adjourn the case so she can get legal advice.

“You are facing a criminal charge. If you are found guilty you will have a criminal record,” he added.

“I want to finish the case today,” said Mendoza, who was fired by her employer after she was arrested. 

“Taking into account your circumstance, I will impose a small fine of $300,” he said. “You still have $200 from your $500 bail.”

Mendoza tearfully thanked him.

Filipina seen in videos being assaulted by employer now in Phl shelter

 

Still shot from a video shows the employer viciously pulling hair of Filipina 

A Filipina seen in various videos uploaded on social media being physically assaulted by her Hong Kong employer has been rescued by police officers and is now at the shelter of the Philippines’ Migrant Workers Office.

The Filipina who’s said to be named Bernadette, is shown in one video taken at the Olympic MTR station being repeatedly hit in the head and body, and her hair pulled by the employer as she cowered in a corner and cried.

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In the background, a woman who was apparently filming the incident started shouting at fellow Filipinas to call the police.

A succeeding video showed a number of police officers at the scene talking to the black-clad Filipina while a lone officer spoke with the employer who was in a pink dress, a few feet away.

Rescuers talk to Filipina after the latest assault at an MTR station

Other videos surfaced subsequently, including one taken at a mall apparently on the same day, where the Filipina was subjected to repeated hair-pulling by the employer.

The most disturbing was a video taken inside a house and apparently recorded in secret by the Filipina herself, where the employer is seen ending a call on her mobile phone, then without a warning, started hitting the sobbing helper ferociously in the head and face.

According to commenters, the Filipina had been at her job for just a month, and had reportedly told friends her employer had mental issues and would often beat her up for no reason, especially if she failed to take her medicines on time.

Many others called on the Filipina to call the police for help immediately, and not allow herself to be assaulted for whatever reason.

Police subsequently took the Filipina to the Kwong Wah Hospital for a medical examination and held the employer for questioning. However, it’s still unclear whether charges will be laid against the employer. 

Another shot of employer repeatedly pummeling helper's head

Meanwhile, the helper reportedly told a volunteer of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge who happened to be at the hospital at the same time that her employer had dementia, but gave no further details.

Officers from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration arrived at the hospital shortly, and offered to take Bernadette to the MWO shelter to rest and given assistance with her case.

(The SUN has made inquiries with the police on the status of the case, and will update this story once a reply is received).

 

 

Fireworks display back on Lunar New Year

 

Last year's CNY fireworks display drew more than 250,000 people on both sides of the harbour

Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour will again light up on Feb. 18, for the traditional Lunar New Year fireworks display.

The 2026 fireworks show will go ahead as planned, despite the cancellation of the one that was supposed to be held on Dec. 31, New Year’s eve, as the city continued to grieve over the Tai Po fire tragedy on Nov. 26.

As before, this year’s fireworks display will be held on the second day of the Year of the Horse, and will start at 8pm.

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It will be sponsored exclusively by the Jockey Club whose chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges is expected to make the announcement and give more details at a press conference on Friday.

Last year’s spectacle featured more than 20,000 fireworks being set off over Victoria Harbour, drawing more than 250,000 to the waterfront on both sides of the harbor.

The Lunar New Year fireworks will be held a day after the equally popular Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade is staged along the lively streets of Tsim Sha Tsui.

As before, dazzling floats and captivating performances by artists from all over the world will keep spectators enthralled during the evening parade.

The much-anticipated Cathay Night Parade will also be back on Feb 17, the first day of the LNY

Starting a week before Chinese New Year, or from Feb 11 to 17, several flower markets around the city will be filled with auspicious blooms and traditional treats that will be on sale to the public.

The more popular ones include the one at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, and the Prince Edward Flower Market, where dozens of stalls will be selling not just flowers but also colorful decorations, local handicrafts and snacks.

The new year will not be complete for some people without a visit to the Wong Tai Sin Temple, where they can ask for blessings for the new year. The ritual includes lighting incense sticks for blessings and spinning the fortune wheel at Che Kung Temple for good luck.

For even more blessings, locals flock to Lam Tsuen Village where they can write their heart’s desires on joss paper and toss them into the fabled Wishing Trees. According to folklore their wish will come true if the paper catches on the tree branches – the higher, the better.

 

Caning for scammers take effect in Singapore

 

Singapore hopes the caning will curb its growing problem with scams

Starting on Dec. 30 last year, convicted scammers in Singapore will be subject to up to 24 strokes of the cane, apart from the standard maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison plus fines.

The Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025 was passed on Nov 4, 2025, and includes caning for scams and scams-related offences.

Under the law, scammers, members and recruiters of scam syndicate face mandatory caning of at least six strokes. This can go up to 24 strokes depending on the severity of the crime.

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Discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes is also provided for scam mules, or those who provide their Singpass (like HKID cards in Hong Kong) credential, SIM cards or bank accounts to be used in scams.

This means that for those convicted of crimes under the second category, the courts are left to decide during sentencing if caning is needed.

Singapore law already provides for caning as a corporal punishment in crimes like vandalism, sexual offenses and robbery, but makes exemptions for women and those aged below 18, and over 50 years old.

The move underscores the gravity of Singapore’s problem with scams, including the huge losses incurred by victims. The introduction of scams for offenders is meant to further deter people from getting involved in the growing menace.

Since 2020, scam victims in Singapore are reported to have lost around S$3.8 billion (US$2.9 billion) to criminals who use phone calls and messaging, email and online schemes to rob them of their savings.

Last year, a record S$1.1billion (US$839.5M) was lost to swindlers by some 40,000 people in the city state.

According to Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann, scams now make up 60%, or more than half of all reported crimes in Singapore. The victims are from a diverse sector, including a Chinese actor and a widow from Illinois.

Filipinos are among those who have been found guilty of scams, or related offences. They include a Filipina who was jailed for two years for using fake PayNow screenshots to pay for food worth over S$9,000 at two Singapore restaurants.

A Filipina natioanl was among 12 people, mostly Singaporeans and Malaysians  who were charges with operating a scam sundicate operating out of Cambodia, but targeting people in Singapore. They're believed to be responsible for losses amountint to more than S$40 million.

Another Filipina was jailed for helping a fellow domestic worker transfer $$116,000 in funds linked to internet love scams targeting Singaporean women.

Even the Philippine Embassy in Singapore has warned of individuals using its name and logo to offer fake jobs online and collect exorbitant fees.

Defense in $8.8M money laundering case insists Filipina not complicit

Sentencing will be on Jan 26 at the District Court

 How can anyone be guilty of a crime she had no knowledge of?

This was the gist of the mitigation presented by the defense Monday, in the case of Filipina Lynie B. Acosta, who was found guilty after trial at the District Court last month, of laundering more than HK$8.83 million using three online bank accounts in her name.

District Judge Edward Wong deferred the sentencing to Jan. 26 after hearing from both sides in the case, saying he was looking at a starting point of four years in jail. (See this article for reasons for verdict: https://www.sunwebhk.com/search?q=lynie+acosta)

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Despite Acosta’s conviction, her defense lawyer still vigorously argued that she had no knowledge of the crime she was charged with, and did not benefit from.

The defendant can only be punished for conspiracy if she was part of the gang that committed the offence, but there was no evidence to support that, insisted her lawyer.

Acosta, a 38-year-old widow who has been working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong since 2017, was convicted despite her claim that she had been tricked into presenting her HKID card to “Jane” and  two Chinese men she did not know, who paid her $400 and told her they would  register her for a “game.”

Her lawyer said that had her church not been closed that day in 2023, Acosta would not have been enticed to go to Tseung Kwan O and meet up with those strangers.

However, Judge Wong reminded him that he had already convicted Acosta after finding that she was part of an organized crime syndicate that laundered the HK$8.83 million, the biggest amount to have been linked to a migrant domestic worker charged with money laundering in Hong Kong.

Defense said it was not right for the judge to just look at the amount involved in the crime, as Acosta had no knowledge or control over money that went into the bank accounts opened in her name.

“Her acts were minimal, short-lived, and would not have happened if her church was not closed that Sunday,” the defense said.

In any case, any sentence that would be imposed should not exceed two years, he argued.

Judge Wong told both parties to study a Court of Appeal case where the sentencing guidelines were set for money laundering cases, in which the amount involved was cited as a determining factor.

He ordered Acosta returned to jail until her sentencing.

 

$3.1M worth of marijuana lands Filipina tourist in jail

 

Marijuana buds seized by Customs (Customs photo)

A Filipina tourist who arrived from Bangkok and charged with drug trafficking after 15.5 kilos of cannabis (marijuana) buds were found in her checked-in luggage, was returned to jail today after appearing at the West Kowloon Court.

Ma Cristina Fernandez, 28 years old who listed her occupation as “freelancer”, has been in detention since her arrest last Oct. 18, 2025 at a baggage examination counter at the Customs Arrival Hall B at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Principal Magistrate Don So remanded her after adjourning to March 11 her case of violating sections 4 (1) (a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

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The Customs and Excise Department, which filed the complaint against Fernandez, said she was one of two women arrested separately on that day for bringing in a total of 26 kilos of marijuana, with an estimated market value of about $5.2 million.

In the first case. Customs officers found about 15.5kg of suspected cannabis buds in Fernandez’s check-in baggage, worth an estimated $3.1 million. She was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, a 26-year-old female passenger also arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 10.5kg of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.1 million, in her check-in baggage. She was also arrested.

In a press statement, the department reminded members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return.

“They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people,” it added.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Migrant workers warned anew against sharing their HKIDs for fee

 

The Philippine Consulate posted this warning against sharing one's HKID card only last June

Never share your Hong Kong ID card and other personal documents with anyone in exchange for money, no matter how tempting or seemingly harmless the offer, as it would most likely lead you to jail.

This warning, repeatedly made by the Philippine Consulate and by the Hong Kong Police over the years, is being brought to the fore again, after a group of Filipino domestic workers was again lured to sharing their HKIDs and work contracts in exchange for HK$1,000.

This information was shared with The SUN by one of its readers, a Filipina domestic worker who said her friend was taken somewhere in Tsuen Wan on Jan. 4 where her HKID and contract were copied, after which she was paid $1,000.

DETAILS HERE

This friend, in turn, sent her a chat message asking her if she was interested in doing the same thing, and offered to take her to the same place. The HKID and contract details were supposed to be used for registering with an Indonesian SIM card.

“Pero nag-alanganin ako kasi sa mga nababasa ko sa news ninyo about money laundering,” said R.Q., who sent out the alert about the new identity theft scam. (But I hesitated because of what I have been reading in your news reports about money laundering).

R.Q. relayed her concern to her friend, who instantly got alarmed and scared at the prospect that her personal information would be used by syndicates in opening a bank account in her name, and then use this to launder money.

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“Yan din nga ang sinabi ko sa kanya, bakit di nila naisip na bibigyan sila ng ganoon kalaki na halaga kapalit ng picture ng ID at kontrata nila,” said R.Q. (That’s exactly what I told her. They should have wondered why they’d be given that much money for merely sharing pictures of their HKID card and contract).

R.Q. was told to bring her friend to the Consulate as soon as possible so they can be helped in reporting the matter to the police, and possibly prevent the syndicate from using the friend’s identity to launder dirty money or commit another serious crime.

Just last June, an OFW was sentenced to 22 months in prison after $2.2 million was discovered to have passed through her accounts with two online banks. Despite the OFW’s claim that she merely lent her HKID card so she could be registered for an online game, the judge was not convinced.

Read the story here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/search?q=filipina+jailed+22+months

Tomorrow, Jan. 12, another Filipina found to have dealt with $8.8 million in her three bank accounts, the biggest amount ever linked to a foreign domestic worker in a money laundering case, is due to be sentenced at the High Court.

She failed to convince the judge that she did not know that her HKID card would be used to open the bank accounts through which the tainted money had passed.

She claimed the syndicate behind the crime had made her believe she was only registering her personal information for an online game. The story is here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/2025/12/district-court-finds-filipina-guilty-of.html

Pinoy Games fest set this Sunday

 

Event will be held at the Oxford Road Playground in Kowloon Tong

Philippine Alliance Hong Kong in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General, will hold its first Pinoylympics this Sunday, Jan. 11 at Oxford Road Playground in Kowloon Tsai.

The friendly competition that is open to all Pinoys in Hong Kong will feature traditional Filipino games like kadang-kadang, sipa, piko, luksong lubid, patintero, tumbang preso and sungka, plus other favorite recreational sports like chess, basketball, volleyball and cheerdance.

There will also be a competition among the team’s muses dressed in Inabel attire.

DETAILS HERE

Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr will be the guest of honor at the event, which will be opened with a torch lighting by PhilAlliance chairman Dante Berido.

The event will open with a call for assembly at 8:30am but the games will officially start at 10:30am. The games will resume after lunch at 1pm, and continue until 3pm.

PhilAlliance says the event aims to promote fitness, team spirit and a healthy competition among participants.

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Those who have signed up to compete are asked to go directly to Oxford Playground by taking the MTR to Kowloon Tong. Take exit D, then get onto the 25A, 25B or 25M mini bus and alight at the De La Salle Primary School stop to get to the playground.

For more information please call the following numbers on WhatsApp: Marie Rivera at 53049835 or Gie at +63 995232348.

Filipina jailed 5 months for infant abuse

 

The Filipinas was ordered jailed by an Eastern Court magistrate

A Filipino domestic helper identified in court documents only as A.J.B., was sentenced to five months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of ill-treatment of a child in Eastern Court on Friday.

The 41-year-old helper admitted to pulling the limbs of her 11-month-old ward, then pushing her onto the bed, causing the child’s head to hit the mattress. The incidents were recorded on home surveillance video.

In mitigation, A.J.B., who had been employed for less than three months by her employer who lives in Happy Valley, said she had difficulty adjusting to her work environment.

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Through her counsel, the helper also said she was remorseful, and that a medical assessment showed the baby suffered no severe injuries.

Nevertheless, Principal Magistrate David Cheung Chi-wai condemned the helper’s actions, noting the child’s age made her particularly vulnerable.

He also said the incidents were not isolated, as the CCTV footage showed the defendant repeatedly pulling the baby’s limbs and striking her back. This, he said, indicated a serious violation of trust that warranted an immediate custodial sentence.

The abuse was uncovered on Nov 25 last year after the child’s grandmother saw an unusual shaking in the baby, who also vomited. The grandmother alerted the infant’s mother, who immediately checked the home’s CCTV and saw what had happened.

The police were called and A.J.B. was arrested.

In sentencing, the magistrate used a starting point of seven and a half months or prison, then reduced it to five months on account of the defendant’s guilty plea.

The court was previously told that the baby was born in December 2024, and that the helper was hired to work in the household in August 2025.

Pinay cleared of illegal work

 

Filipina was arrested here (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina domestic helper who fought an Immigration Department charge that she breached her condition of stay by working in a flower shop, emerged victorious today after she was found not guilty at Shatin Court.

Susan Francisco, 47 years old, heaved a sigh of relief after Magistrate Raymond Wong made the ruling to conclude her two-day trial.

She promptly retrieved her $20,000 bail from the court cashier.

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Francisco was accused of violating section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance after she was arrested on Aug. 21 last year.

Immigration accused her of performing odd jobs on the second floor of the Eastern Flower Center on Cameron Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

It alleged that she contravened “a condition of stay in force in respect of you imposed by an Immigration Assistant on 4 August 2025” which required her to “only take such employment as approved by the Director of Immigration, namely, to work as a domestic helper....”

However, Magistrate Wong said the prosecution failed to prove Francisco’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.