Pilipina naawa sa among nasentensyahan ng kulong dahil sa pananakit sa kanya

 

Si Renalyn Guiang at ang among nanakit sa kanya, si Leong Pui-Chi.

Nahatulang makulong ng mahigit apat na buwan ang among nanakit sa kanya, pero awa ang naramdaman ng Pilipinang si Renalyn Guiang nang makita niya ulit ang babaeng nagpadama sa kanya ng takot at desperasyon sa loob ng 21 buwan.

“Nangayayat siya,” ika ni Guiang.

Ito ay kahit malinaw pa rin sa kanyang alaala ang huling karahasang dinanas niya sa kamay ng dati niyang amo na si Leong Pui-Chi, 48 taong gulang, na binasahan ng hatol noong Huwebes, Sept. 29, sa Kwun Tong Courts.

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Napatunayan sa harap ni Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan ang anim sa 12 kaso ng pananakit sa Pilipina mula Dec. 23, 2020 hanggang Sept. 9, 2021, na isinampa laban kay Leong.

Para sa unang limang pananakit -- na kalimitan ay pagsampal, pagbatok at pagkutos habang siya ay sinisigawan -- isang buwan ang ipinarusa sa bawa’t kaso, na ipagsisilbi ni Leong nang sabay-sabay.

Ang ika-12 at huling pananakit, na nangyari noong Sept. 9, 2021 sa bahay ng amo sa The Grandiose sa Tseung Kwan O, ay nagdulot ng karagdagang parusa kay Leong ng tatlong buwan at dalawang linggo.

Ibig sabihin, ang kabuuang sentensya ni Leong ay pagkakakulong ng apat na buwan at dalawang linggo.

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Pero hindi agad ikinulong si Leong dahil pinayagan siyang magpiyansa habang inaapela niya ang kanyang sentensya sa mataas na hukuman.

Sa isang panayam, ikinuwento ni Guiang ang huling karahasang nagtulak sa kanya upang, sa wakas, ay magreklamo na sa pulis.

“Galit na galit siya noon,” ani Guiang. “Pinuntahan niya ako sa loob ng toilet at sinampal ng maraming beses, at binatukan sa side ng ulo ko, sa tuktok. Iyong dalawang mata ko idiniin niya. Parang dinudukot niya ang mga mata ko.

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“Umiyak na po ako at nagmakaawa na itigil na nya. Buti na lang napindot ko yung record ko (sa mobile phone)” na nagsilbing ebidensiya na nagdiin sa amo niya.

Nang itigil ng amo ang pag-atake sa kanya dahil kailangan niyang sunduin sa paaralan ang anak nito ay naisip ni Guiang na tumawag sa pulis. Pero nagpigil pa rin siya dahil natakot siya na baka agawin ng amo ang kanyang telepono, at magkagulo sila sa loob ng bahay at mabaliktad siya.

Pero habang nag-aalmusal siya sa isang fastfood restaurant matapos umalis ng bahay ay  naramdaman niyang mahapdi ang sugat sa pisngi niya, at makirot ang kanyang matang namumula. Tumawag siya sa isang pinsan at dalawa niyang kapatid, na nagpayong magsumbong siya sa pulis.

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Dumating ang pinsan niya at sinamahan siya sa mga clinic na isa-isang tumanggi nang malaman ang dahilan ng sugat niya, at itinuro sila sa Tseung Kwan O Hospital. Pagkatapos na gamutin ang sugat niya ay pinayuhan siya ng doktor na magsumbong sa pulis na nakatalaga sa ospital.

Hindi na siya bumalik sa amo, at kinupkop siya sa boarding house ng simbahang kinabibilangan niya, ang Jesus is Lord. 

Tinulungan din siya ng Mission for Migrant Workers, na hinihingan niya ng payo pagkatapos ng unang karahasang ginawa sa kanya. Doon din siya natutong sumulat ng diary tungkol sa mga nangyari sa kanya at magtabi ng ebidensiya.

Pagkatapos ng imbestigasyon ng pulis, sinampahan ng reklamo ang amo na nagdetalye sa 12 pagkakataon na ayon kay Guiang ay sinaktan siya ng amo.

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Nakatakdang umuwi sa Oct. 11 si Guiang sa kanyang asawa at dalawang binatilyong anak sa Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. 

“Gusto ko silang mayakap at maalagaan muli,” ika niya.

Ang problema na lang niya ay pambayad sa door-to-door para sa naipon niyang mga ipapadala sana sa pamilya, dahil naubos na ang ibinayad ng amo matapos niya itong kasuhan sa Labour Tribunal.

 

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Hottest Chung Yeung Festival recorded

By The SUN

 

Hundreds of those who chose to go out despite the heat went near the sea for a whiff of fresh air

Hong Kong on Tuesday experienced its hottest ever Chung Yeung Festival on record, with the temperature registering 33.5 degrees at the Observatory at 2pm.

The previous record of 32.5 degrees was set in 1959.

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The Centre for Health Protection reminded people, particularly those intending to do some outdoor activities, to take precaution against heat stroke and sunburn.

These include drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration and paying attention to children, the elderly and those with chronic disease as they are more vulnerable to heat stroke.

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Despite the heat, many people took advantage of the holiday to venture out, including foreign domestic workers who hung out at their favorite haunts across Hong Kong.

But in line with tradition, many locals took to cemeteries to visit their dear departed and sweep  graves.

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The Observatory said the weather should become slightly cooler on Wednesday morning, as a northeast monsoon is expected to reach the coast of Guangdong. Some showers are also expected in the next couple of days.

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Two Filipinas bumped off flight for failing to complete OneHealthPass

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

The 2 Filipinas were turned away from their Oct 1 flight aboard Cebu Pacific (file photo)

To those about to fly out of Hong Kong back to the Philippines, beware! You must register with OneHealthPass well before checking in for your flight, or you could miss getting on that plane.

This was what happened to two Filipinas on Saturday, Oct. 1, while they were checking in for their 9pm flight on Cebu Pacific.

According to Rhia Mateo, who had worked in Hong Kong for only a month before she was terminated, it was only while she was at the airline counter that she learned she needed to register with OHP to get a personal QR code to be allowed to board her flight.

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Mateo, 36, said it was already around 7pm then, and she was shaking from fright because she had just received a phone call from a co-worker who said that their employer was thinking of filing a police report against her.

Pushing the dark thought aside, she said she managed to complete the OHP registration at about 8:12pm but the airline staff told her they couldn’t accommodate her anymore as the check-in counter had closed.

Aside from Mateo, another Filipina, Rebecca Calma, who was also terminated after working here for a year, had the same fate. Both failed to make it to the boarding cut-off time so they were forced to spend the night at the airport.

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Meantime, Mateo’s husband was left waiting at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. She said she was too embarrassed to tell him that she had missed her flight so said that it had been rescheduled the next day, thinking she could somehow get on the next available flight.

But being a former seafarer, her husband was flight-savvy enough to see through her excuse. Luckily, he did not have to travel far to get back home that night, as they live in Quezon City.

For Mateo, being bumped off her flight was the latest in a series of mishaps that happened when she decided to try her luck in Hong Kong after working in Qatar for two years, also as a domestic helper.

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She said she had waited for a year and a half to get here, because her first employer had backed out when Hong Kong started tightening its inbound rules for foreign domestic workers. This included the flight ban, and then the long and tedious process of obtaining a slot in the designated quarantine places for FDWs.

Her persistence paid off when she was placed with a new employer and she managed to finally arrive here on Aug. 31 this year.

She said she then went straight to work for her at her employer’s house in Fo Tan, where her main tasks were looking after a couple and their four dogs. There was also her employer’s elderly mother she was supposed to help look after, along with another Filipina helper.

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Mateo said the work was not easy and the hours were long, but she was determined to learn and adjust to her new surroundings. She even agreed not to take a day off, hoping this would show her desire to learn the ropes quickly.

Despite this, her employer gave up on her after just one month, saying she had a poor grasp of what was expected of her. She was terminated on the spot on Sept. 30, and paid her salary for the month, plus another month’s pay in lieu of notice.

She was booked for her return flight to Manila the next day, and Mateo did not resist, thinking that she could just re-apply to come back once she got home.

Early on Oct 1, she asked for permission to go out, saying she needed to meet with a relative. But at a friend’s suggestion she took the chance to go to the Mission for Migrant Workers to seek advice, but it was closed as it was a holiday.

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She then went to an employment agency and filled out an application form, hoping an employer might just pick her out and get her to come back quickly.

Once back at her employer’s house, however, she was told to work some more, as she was supposedly paid until that day. She finished her chores at 5pm and immediately packed her stuff and took a taxi to the airport, anxious not to miss her flight.

This advisory for Manila-bound passengers has been on the Consulate Facebook page since late May 

Mateo said that since she never took a day off during the entire month that she was here, she did not get the chance to talk at length to fellow Filipinos, nor consult with support organizations about her work-related concerns.

The employment agency that brought her here also did not guide her, so she was not aware that there were things she needed to do before she could get on her flight back to the Philippines.

But once she got stuck at the airport, she began searching online, and found the hotline for the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. When she called, she was told that she and Calma should have reached out earlier so they could have avoided being bumped off.

The next morning, the two got lucky when they met members of Social Justice for Migrant Workers who were sending off another friend who was bound for Canada. The group paid for their breakfast at McDonald’s and gave them money so they could go to Polo and get help.

With help from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Mateo’s Hong Kong agency was contacted, and told that since they failed to guide her well they should pay for her new plane ticket.

Mateo is now staying at the Polo shelter for the night, and is scheduled to fly out tomorrow, on the same Cebu Pacific flight that she missed earlier. But this time, she is making sure she completes the OHP declaration well ahead of time so she does not go through Saturday’s nightmare all over again.

Note: All travelers to the Philippines must register with OneHealthPass and obtain a personal QR code which they must present at the check-in counter, along with their vaccination record. Those who had three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine need not present any negative PCR test result obtained within 48 hours of departure. But this will be required of those who did not complete three doses, or are unvaccinated.

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Pilipino, hindi sumipot sa korte kaya di nalaman na inatras ang 3 kaso laban sa kanya

 

Hindi sumipot ang Pilipino sa Eastern Court kaya di nalaman na inatras na ang kaso laban sa kanya

Hindi sumipot ang isang Pilipino sa Eastern Magistrates’ Courts ngayon (Oct. 3), kaya tuloy hindi niya nalaman na wala na siyang kasong dapat harapin, dahil iniurong na ang mga ito ng taga-usig.

Isinakdal si Renden Tugade, 37 taong gulang at aplikante sa asylum, sa kasong pagsusugal sa isang hindi lisensiyadong pasugalan na labag sa Gambling Ordinance, hindi pagdala ng pagkakakilanlan na labag sa Immigration Ordinance, at hindi pagsunod sa Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation.

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Isinakdal si Tugade matapos maaresto siya ng isang pulis sa isang ilegal na pasugalan sa Coronet Court sa King’s Road, North Point noong Aug. 5. 

Nang hanapan siya ng HKID, nabigo siyang magpakita nito, dahil ang hawak niya ay recognizance form (na nagpapakitang humihiling siya na payagang maglagi sa Hong Kong kahit walang visa), na siyang dahilan ng kanyang ikalawang sakdal.

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Ang ikatlong sakdal ay nagsasabi lang na hindi sumunod si Tugade sa mga utos ng Kalihim (Chief Secretary for Administration), at isa sa mga utos na ito ang pag-scan ng QR code sa ilalim ng Vaccine Pass.

Nang malamang wala si Tugade matapos tawagin ang kaso niya, inutos ni Principal Magistrate Peter Law ang pag-aresto sa kanya, at pag-kansela ng kanyang piyansa.

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Pero tumayo ang taga-usig at sinabi na matapos humingi ng payong legal, inuurong nila ang lahat ng sakdal laban kay Tugade. Hindi niya ipinaliwanag kung bakit nagdesisyon sila nang ganito.

Dahil dito ay inutos na lang ni Magistrate Law ang pagbabalik ng $600 na piyansang ibinayad ni Tugade, upang pansamantalang makalaya -- kung siya ay magpapakitang muli sa korte.

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Samantala, isang Pilipinang nagpapatakbo ng isang restaurant ang humarap sa kaparehong korte para sagutin ang dalawang kaso ng pagdadala ng cocaine sa dalawang magkahiwalay na insidente, pero sa iisang araw.

Si Imelda Balik, 53 taong gulang, ay nahuli ng pulis sa harap ng isang restaurant sa Staunton St., sa SoHo sa Central, noong May 28 na diumano ay may dalang botelya na may lamang .4 gramo ng cocaine.

Nang dalhin na siya sa Central Police Station sa Sheung Wan ay nakitaan siya ng isa pang botelya na may .08 na gramo ng cocaine, at dalawang plastic na bag na naglalaman din ng cocaine na may kabuuang timbang na 0.52 gramo

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Pinayagan siyang magpiyansa ng $500 hanggang sa susunod na pagdinig ng kanyang kaso sa Nov. 25.

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Dining restrictions in restaurants and bars to ease from Oct 6

By The SUN

 

More people will be allowed to sit together in restaurants and bars, but live shows are banned

In response to appeals from the catering industry for the easing of rules pertaining to people eating and drinking together in restaurants and bars, the government issued late on Friday guidelines raising the maximum number of diners per group in such places.

Starting on Thursday, Oct. 6, the maximum number of people who may eat together in restaurants or gather in party rooms, karaokes, swimming pools and other designated premises will be increased to 12 from the current eight.

Those who can sit together in bars will go up to six from the current four.

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For banquets, the maximum number of people who will be allowed to gather in one place has been doubled to 240 from the present 120.

The government also allowed the resumption of trips-to-nowhere trips on cruise ships, which were halted at the start of the fifth wave of the pandemic earlier this year.

However, live performances are still prohibited in these venues. Also, the requirement for banquet guests, as well as patrons of bars, pubs and nightclubs to undergo a rapid antigen test within 24 hours before entry will remain.

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Opening hours will be kept to up to midnight for restaurants and 2am for bars and pubs. The allowed capacity for most of the venues, including cinemas, theaters and churches will be kept at 85 percent.

The vaccine pass scheme where the minimum age requirement was lowered to five from today, will also continue. This means those on red or amber code will still be prevented from entering high-risk places such as eateries, libraries, swimming pools.

The government said the rules prohibiting group gatherings in public places will be kept, meaning only up to four people are still allowed to gather together outdoors. They should also keep on their masks, unless performing strenuous exercises.

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According to the government statement, the Covid-19 situation has recently subsided, with positive cases dropping from a high of 11,000 in early September to between 3,000 and 4,000 in recent days.

Earlier, the government allowed people, especially caregivers, to store up to eight vaccination QR codes in their LeaveHomeSafe app so they can easily accompany young children and elderly people aged 65 who have vaccine passes, to enter designated premises.

Children aged 5 to 11 should have two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, or are within three months of receiving their first jab, to qualify for the vaccine pass.

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As for those aged 12 and above, they now must receive their third dose within five months, instead of six months, to continue using their vaccine pass.

Details of the amended regulations may be found here: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202209/30/P2022093000818.htm

Meanwhile, health authorities reported 3,907 new Covid-19 infections on Saturday, 226 of them imported.

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Six deaths involving Covid patients were also recorded.

More than 1,600 patients are receiving treatment in public hospitals, including 11 who are under intensive care.

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2 Pilipina, itinali ng 3 magnanakaw kasama ng employer

ng The SUN

 

Napapaligiran ng mataas na bakod ang ninakawang bahay sa 4 Essex Crescent Road

Hanggang ngayon ay pinaghahanap pa ng mga pulis ang apat na lalaki na nanloob sa isang bahay sa Kowloon Tong at itinali ang dalawang Pilipinang domestic helper at kanilang lalaking amo bago tumakas, dala ang cash na RMB1 million.

Kinilala ng mga pulis ang may-ari ng bahay sa No 4 Essex Crescent Road, Kowloon Tong, bilang “Fung,” 44 na taong gulang. Ang kanyang dalawang domestic helper na parehong Pilipina ay edad 26 at 29.

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Ayon pa sa mga pulis, nakatakas ang mga nanloob na apat na lalaki na naka hood,  gwantes, at itim na t-shirt na pawang nasa 1.8 metro ang taas, at kasalukuyan pa ring pinaghahanap.

Wala ni isang nasaktan sa tatlo katao na itinali nila.

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Batay sa report ng pulis, tumawag sa kanila ang biktima bandang 1:02 ng umaga ng Sabado, at sinabing pinasok sila ng tatlong magnanakaw at tinangay ang tatlong safe sa bahay na may lamang RMB1 million at mga alahas.

Tumakas ang tatlo sakay ng isang kotse.

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Ayon naman sa ibang balita, habang patakas ang mga magnanakaw ay nagawang tanggalin ng isa sa mga Pilipina ang kanyang tali, at sinubukan pang habulin ang tatlong lalaki, nguni’t bigla silang sumakay sa kotse at umalis sa direksyon ng Waterloo Road.

Sumunod na tinanggal ng Pilipina ang mga tali ng kanyang amo at kapwa domestic helper. Noon na nagawang tumawag sa pulis ni Fung.

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Ayon pa sa kwento, kasalukuyang nasa sala pa ng bahay si Fung at isang Pilipina samantalang nasa kuwarto na ang pangalawang Pilipina at natutulog nang bigla silang pasukin ng mga magnanakaw.

Nang dumating ang mga pulis sa bahay ay nakita nila ang isang lalagyan ng kutsilyo na ginamit ng mga magnanakaw. Tiningnan din nila ang mga CCTV sa lugar para sa pagkilanlan ng mga suspek.

Bumalik muli ang mga pulis bandang alas 9 ng umaga para mag imbestiga sa bahay at sa mga katabing lugar.

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Nilista ng mga pulis ang kaso bilang “burglary” o panloloob na may gamit na pwersa.

Samantala, ayon sa isa pang balita, bandang 5 ng umaga ay may nagtangka din daw pumasok sa isang kalapit na bahay sa No 2, Rutland Quadrant, pero nabigo. Ang tatlong magnanakaw ay nakatalon na sa pader ng bahay nguni’t nabigong pasukin ito.

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