OFW in HK held in India for 4.7kg cocaine haul

By Vir B. Lumicao

A cocaine pack seized from a drug courier in HK

A Hong Kong-based Filipina maid has reportedly been arrested by Indian anti-narcotics agents after she was arrested on Jan 2 for allegedly carrying into the country 4.7 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil.

Indian online media quoting narcotics officers said the woman, Jonna de Torres, was intercepted at Nedumbassery International Airport in Cochin, the capital of Kerala state, as she tried to bring in the drug, said to be worth US$3.9 million (HK$30.4 million).

The SUN contacted the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi for an update about Torres, but has not yet received a reply.

Torres reportedly admitted being paid US$4,000 ($31,200) by a Sao Paulo-based drug cartel to take the dangerous drug to India. She was supposed to stay in a hotel in Cochin booked online by the cartel, the New India Express online news service reported.

The news portal quoted an officer of the Narcotic Control Bureau as saying it had been informed that Torres, a helper in Hong Kong with a Filipino passport issued in 2013, had carried drugs several times in the past but this was her first trip to India.

The NCB officers said Torres’ passport showed she visited Brazil for five days before the New Year and was there previously in 2015. The Filipina was paid US$2,000 to US$4,000 for smuggling drugs, with her last errand earning her US$4,000, New India Express reported.

“Torres has admitted to smuggling drugs on several occasions. It was her first attempt to transport drugs to India,” an NCB officer was quoted as saying.

In India, the maximum penalty for drug smuggling is 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 rupees.

The officer said Torres alleged in a statement that a Brazilian who she did not know visited her at Sao Paulo and gave her two pieces of luggage –a trolley bag and a handbag.

“The cocaine was concealed in the trolley bag. The booking of her flight and a room at a hotel in Ernakulam North was done by someone from Sao Paulo,” the officer said. He said Torres refused to name anyone during her several hours of interrogation.

Torres’ itinerary showed a circuitous flight route from Sao Paulo, a port city on the Atlantic coast of Brazil, to Cochin via the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and the Omani capital Muscat.

The officer said the drug syndicate must have wrongly thought that Nedumbassery Airport was an easy entry port for smuggled drugs as baggage checking would be minimal. He said NCB was surprised to see Torres’ baggage containing cocaine getting through Addis Ababa and Muscat airports undetected before reaching Cochin.

Recruiter to Russia on trial for overcharging

By Vir B. Lumicao

The owner of a Hong Kong employment agency is in court for allegedly charging a Filipina domestic worker $20,000 for an invitation from an employer in Russia that she could use to apply for a commercial visa.

Gilda Flores Li, also a Filipina and owner of Quality Consultants Agency, pleaded not guilty on Jan 2, the first day of her trial  in Kwun Tong Court.

She is being prosecuted by the Employment Agencies Administration of the Hong Kong Labour Department on three counts of “receiving payment other than the prescribed commission”.

Li, in her 50s and who appeared without a lawyer, told the court “money changed hands” between her and her alleged victim, Jean Lorena Sheel, but it was meant for an invitation that the Russian consulate requires to issue a commercial visa to a person.

The prosecution presented Sheel as the first of its five witnesses against Li.

Sheel, a soft-spoken woman in her 40s who had been a domestic helper in Hong Kong since 2011, said she came to know about Quality when she browsed the internet early last year and saw its advertisement for jobs in Russia and Canada.

The helper said on Feb 2 she called Quality’s phone number listed on the advertisement and  talked to a woman whom she later came to know as Li.

She applied for a job in Russia and was told by Li that she had to pay $20,000 – the first payment of $10,000 to be made in advance and another $10,000 when the invitation arrived in two weeks.

When Magistrate Andrew Mok asked her if she was given a breakdown of where the $20,000 would go, Sheel said the amount would cover visa and air ticket.

Sheel said on Mar 5 last year, she went to Quality’s office and paid $11,000 in cash to Li.

She said she wasn’t given a receipt so the helper took a notebook, wrote the amount she paid Li on a page and took a picture of the scribbled payment.

She made another payment of $4,000 on April and on April 9, Li allegedly called Sheel to tell her that the invitation had arrived. The helper went to Li’s office to check the invitation and found no mistake.

On April 25, Li asked Sheel to pay the remaining $5,000, as the visa might soon arrive. Li gave the jobseeker her HSBC account number where Sheel would deposit the money. As the helper was working, she requested her cousin to deposit the amount in the bank account.

But when Sheel called Li to confirm if her cousin had deposited the money in Li’s account, the agency owner told her the visa couldn’t be issued because there was a mistake in the helper’s birth year, which was printed on the invitation as 1975 instead of 1976.

Sheel was heart-broken when Li told her about the mistake. Since then she said she had been asking Li to refund her money, even only just half of the amount, but she was made to wait until she ran out of hope.

In the meantime, Sheel said she had no more job and would exit to China each time her visa ran out.

The trial continues.

No malice intended in Peya booking mess, says Yanyan

By Daisy CL Mandap

Rhea Donna Boyce

The woman at the center of the airline booking scandal that saw hundreds of home-bound overseas Filipino workers unable to board their flights has insisted there was no intention to cause harm to anyone.

Rhea Donna Boyce, part owner and managing director of PEYA Travel which issued the dud confirmation bookings to more than 600 of its clients, spoke with The SUN on Dec.22, shortly after she declined an offer from the police to make a voluntary statement.

Boyce was nevertheless arrested on Christmas day three days later, and questioned for two days before being released on police bail.

The Filipina known to many in the community simply  as Yanyan, told The SUN during a phone conversation: "PEYA Travel does not have any intention to fool people. No malice was intended".

She was, however, cagey when asked what had caused a huge number of its clients not being issued tickets, and why PEYA failed to warn them in advance about the problem.

“It was an internal problem. Someone tasked to monitor the bookings failed to see that the tickets were not issued,” she said, without naming names.

It was a clear attempt to distance herself from an earlier excuse that a "technical glitch" had caused the problem.

Some industry sources had readily brushed away this excuse, and said PEYA simply did not have the money to buy the air tickets for its clients.

What was not readily apparent, though, was why PEYA had allowed its once formidable name to get tarnished in such a spectacular fashion.

In an earlier interview, Boyce spoke of how angry she was on hearing on Dec. 16 about the looming problem, and how she had bought tickets at $5,000 each, round-trip, to enable some of their clients to fly home as  scheduled.

That time, she said she had paid a premium for the tickets of about 100 clients, just so they could leave. But on hindsight, this could not have been possible as flights to the Philippines starting mid-December are often packed, and 100 additional seats would have been hard to come by, even if one had money to spare.

Boyce said she was willing to refund the money paid by the affected clients, and even hinted at providing freebies to make up for the inconvenience.

To do this, she said she needed some time to sort out the company's finances, including closing down PEYA's branch office in North Point.

“Babayaran ko sila, pero siguro in groups of 30 muna,” she said.

She also said the fact that she chose to stay put in Hong Kong after the scandal unraveled showed she had nothing to hide.

When asked why she slipped out of public view when irate clients began storming her office, Bpyce said it was because she got scared.

“Hinila nung isang Pilipina na nakakilala sa akin ang kamay ko nang minsang lumabas ako,” she said.

Boyce admitted that the booking mess could impact heavily on PEYA's business, but she was confident she could ride out the storm.

“PEYA has learned its lesson, but we have to be tough. What we have to do now is to regain the trust of the public. Pero makakabawi din kami.”

With all that has happened in the days since the first of its OFW clients failed to board their flights home, PEYA would need nothing short of a miracle to get back on its feet.

Yanyan ‘begged for 6 tickets’ as mess unfolded

By Vir B. Lumicao

An airline consolidator has told The SUN that PEYA Travel managing director Rhea Donna Boyce had tearfully begged him to issue air tickets to some of her clients on Dec. 16, two days before the travel agency's air booking mess unraveled.

Rhea Donna Boyce

Benny Hui, owner of AGC Travel and wholesaler of Philippine Airlines tickets, said he granted Boyce’s request to help her out.

“ She was crying when she called me, begging to issue six tickets for flights on Dec 16 and Dec 17 because some passengers could not go back to the Philippines,” said Hui, who claimed to have been a friend of Boyce for about four years as PEYA provided him "very good" business.

“She is my friend, so I issued the tickets,” Hui said, adding they cost a total of $21,000.

The supposed incident happened two days before hundreds of PEYA clients, mostly overseas Filipino workers, were turned away at the check-in counters at Chek Lap Kok Airport.  Airline staff told them PEYA did not pay for their tickets.

But months before this, Hui said he already sensed that PEYA was in trouble.  He said that a cheque issued to her by Boyce bounced in August, so by the end of that month his company stopped extending credit to PEYA.

But in September, October and November, Hui said he still provided PEYA one-way tickets for overseas Filipino workers priced at less than $1,000 each, saying "the amounts were not so big".

Not being a full member of the International Air Travel Association (IATA), PEYA had to buy air tickets from consolidators or wholesalers like AGC

Hui said Boyce promised to pay the six PAL tickets before 6pm on Dec 15. But when he called her, the PEYA executive was not in her office in World-Wide Plaza, and told him to come on Saturday afternoon, Dec 16.

“On Saturday afternoon, I kept calling her but she didn’t answer,” Hui said.

Despite this, Hui said he was not angry at Boyce.

“We are still friends. I’m not angry because I’ve known her for three to four years. I know she has been doing investments, like launching a credit card, the PEYA Card,” the AGC executive said.

Ano ang kapalaran mo sa simula ng taon?

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Paghuhusayan mo ang trabaho mo ngayon, lalo na kung may bago kang ginagawa. Suwerte ang love life, kaya masaya ang buhay ng may-asawa. Sa mga walang relasyon, ito ang tamang oras na makipagkaibigan. Mas malaki ang tsansa mong kumita sa trabaho kesa makipagsapalaran. Pananakit ng ulo at puyat ang mararanasan dahil sa labis na pag-iisip. Lucky numbers: 18, 23, 29 at 31.

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Sa umpisa ng taon ay makakaranas ka ng sari-saring problema. Maghinay-hinay upang makapag-isip at maiwasan pang lumala ang sitwasyon. Mahihirapan ka rin sa pakikipag-relasyon, at maging ang pagkakaibigan ay masusubukan dahil sa mga away. Habaan ang pasensya at piliting makontrol ang galit. Lucky numbers: 4, 13, 39, at 41.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Maganda ang pakikitungo mo sa lahat, at matutulungan ka ng mga taong ipinanganak sa taon ng Tigre upang mapaganda ang iyong trabaho. Kung naghahanap ng trabaho, makikilala mo ang taong maniniwala sa kakayahan mo. Mapayapa ang pagsasama kahit salat sa dating init ng pagmamahal. Maganda ang lagay ng pananalapi at kalusugan, pero iwasan ang kumain ng labis. Lucky numbers: 11, 29, 33 at 40.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Maganda ang pasok ng taon dahil sa magandang simula sa trabaho. Kung gagawa ka ng plano para mapaganda ang kalagayan mo, at pagsisikapan na masunod ito ng unti-unti, malaki ang tsansang magtatagumpay ka. Mag-ingat sa pakikipag-usap dahil baka ka madiin sa isang bagay na maaring humantong sa demanda. Sa pamilya, ang hindi pag-uusap ng maayos ay maaring humantong sa hindi pagkakaunawaan. Lucky numbers: 3, 14, 28 at 45.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Kailangan pang dagdagan ang sipag upang umangat ang kabuhayan. Huwag gaanong problemahin ang pagkakasakit; bigyan ng atensyon ang kinakain. Maging palakaibigan. Sa trabaho, kumilos ng maingat, pero sigurado sa ginagawa; huwag masyadong maging agresibo at huwag i-pressure ang sarili. Magiging maswerte ka sa pera ngayon, pero huwag maging tuso. Lucky numbers: 9, 17, 26 at 44.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Magiging swerte ka sa trabaho sa unang bahagi ng 2018. Humingi ng tulong sa iba upang mapaganda ang trabaho. Hangga’t nagsisikap at nagsisipag ka, maraming oportunidad ang magbubukas sa iyo. Malaki ang tsansa na umangat pa dahil sa tapang mong makipagsapalaran, pero iwasang maging gahaman sa pera. Lucky numbers: 16, 27, 34 at 48.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Maganda ang dating ng Year of the Dog sa iyo. Hangga’t ginagawa mo ng maayos ang trabaho at mahusay kang makisama sa mga kasamahan, tuloy-tuloy ang pag-asenso mo. Ang away sa kapartner ay hindi nakakapekto sa relasyon sa ngayon, pero iwasang lumala pa ito. Maswerte ka sa pera ngayon, magandang i-share din ito sa iba. Lucky numbers: 11, 23, 37 at 42.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Pag-isipang mabuti bago ka maglabas ng pera, mahirap sumugal sa mga bagay, lalo kung hindi mo ito kabisado. Hindi ito ang tamang oras upang magsimula ng bagong negosyo, pag-aralan pa itong mabuti. Huwag pakialaman ang gawain ng iba upang makaiwas sa away. Maganda ang relasyon mo sa kapartner kaya madaling maayos ang anumang gusot. Pag-ingatan ang tiyan at sikmura, iwasan ang pagkain o pag-inom ng alak ng sobra. Lucky number: 12, 19, 25 at 30.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Mahihirapan kang gawin ang trabaho mo ngayon dahil kailangan mong isipin ang sariling kaligtasan at katatagan ng kalagayan. Madali ka ring mairita at mapa-away, piliting kumalma sa gitna ng mga problema. Sa walang karelasyon, may tsansang makilala mo ang taong nababagay sa iyo, at masisimulan ang matatag na relasyon, sa tulong ng iyong kaibigan o kaanak. Iwasang maglabas ng malaking pera. Ingatan ang pananakit ng sikmura. Lucky numbers: 7, 18, 35 at 40.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Magiging masipag ka sa panimula ng bagong taon at magbubunga ito ng magandang resulta. Sa mga walang karelasyon, ito ang tamang oras na makihalubilo at makipagkaibigan dahil swerte ka sa pag-ibig ngayon. May pagkakataon ring kumita ng maayos ang iyong puhunan. Panatilihin ang magandang kalusugan sa pamamagitan ng pagkain ng wasto at balanseng pagkain. Lucky numbers: 20, 21, 38 at 46.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Lahat halos ng gawin mo ay magiging maganda ang resulta, kaya makukuha mo ang tiwala ng iyong boss at mabibigyan ka ng mahalagang posisyon. Maganda ang tubo ng iyong puhunan, ituloy mo lang ang sinimulan mo. Bigyan ng pansin ang sakit sa puso, lalo na kung senior citizen na. Mag-ingat din sa pagtaas ng presyon ng dugo. Lucky numbers: 16, 14, 18, at 32.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Makakaranas ng hindi inaasahang problema sa trabaho at dagok sa buhay, kaya mahihirapan kang makagalaw at makapag-isip ng maayos. Maging ang love life ay magkakaroon ng malaking pagbabago. Dahil sa mga pinagdaraanan, hindi napapanahon ang pagpasok sa mga delikadong pamumuhunan.Mag-ingat sa mga sakuna na magdudulot ng pagdurugo. Lucky numbers: 19, 21, 33 at 40.

Nakabalik na si Maine sa Eat Bulaga

Nagsalita na ang talent manager na si Rams David ng APT Entertainment, ang nagma-manage sa showbiz career ni Maine Mendoza, upang pasinungalingan ang mga balitang iiwan na niya ang Eat Bulaga, at lilipat na sa ibang TV stations. Wala raw katotohanan ito, dahil nakabalik na sa Eat Bulaga ang 22-yr old phenomenal star sa live telecast ng Eat Bulaga noong January 1, 2018. Sa December 31 nakabalik ito sa Pilipinas mula sa bakasyon niya sa ibang bansa. 
Hinggil sa biglaang pagkawala ni Maine sa show matapos niyang ilabas ang saloobin sa kanyang mahabang open letter sa kanyang fans noong November, ang sabi ni David: “Napagod lang si Meng, so humingi siya ng break. Naintindihan naman namin yon, imagine 2 years siyang walang pahinga. Sumabak siya sa mundo ng showbiz na walang ka-alam alam”.  Napabalita pang na-suspinde si Maine sa Eat Bulaga kaya matagal siyang hindi napapanood, matapos lumabas ang kanyang isinulat. Pero, sinabi ni Vic Sotto na hindi ito totoo.
Sinabi rin ni David na tuloy pa rin ang gagawing pelikula nina Alden Richards at Maine, pero binago na daw ang concept. Hindi na raw action ang pelikula, at ang gusto raw nila ay maganda talaga ang kuwento, para sa ikasisiya ng mga fans.
Si Maine ay sumikat bilang Yaya Dub sa kalyeserye ng Eat Bulaga, at lalo pang sumikat nang itambal kay Alden, at nabuo ang AlDub nation. Una siyang nadiskubre sa pagda-dubsmash o panggagaya niya sa mga celebrities sa You Tube. 

MARK ANTHONY, NAKALAYA NA
Pinalaya na noong December 22 ang aktor na si Mark Anthony Fernandez matapos ang mahigit isang taong pagkakakulong nito dahil sa droga.
Nahuli si Mark noong October 3, 2016 sa Angeles, Pampanga matapos itong makipaghabulan sa mga pulis at kasuhan dahil sa hindi magandang asal sa check point (Art. 15 of revised penal code), possession, transporting, at testing positive sa droga. Isang kilong marijuana ang nakumpiska mula sa kanyang kotse.
Samantala, binigyan ng sampung oras na reprieve si Bong Revilla upang makasama niya ang kanyang pamilya noong bisperas ng pasko, Dec 24. Masayang nakipagdiwang ng noche Buena ang dating senador sa kanilang bahay sa Bacoor, Cavite, kasama ng kanyang amang si Ramon Revilla, Sr., asawang si Lani Mercado, mga anak, apo, at ilang taga suporta.

BAGONG TV SHOWS NG GMA AT ABS CBN 
Kakaibang tema ng mga bagong programa ang handog ng GMA Network para sa 2018. Unang ipinasilip ang mga show sa ipinalabas na The GMA Christmas Special noong Dec. 17:
1) The One That Got Away – Isang sexy romantic comedy series na pangungunahan nina Dennis Trillo, Rhian Ramos, Max Collins, Ivan Dorschner, Migo Adecer at Jason Abalos. Sa direksyon ni Maryo J. Delos Reyes at Mark dela Cruz.
2) Sherlock Jr. – Isang action- drama series na pagbibidahan nina Ruru Madrid at Gabbi Garcia. Ipakikilala rin si Serena, isang mahusay na asong golden retriever. Kasama rin sina Roi Vinzon, Rochelle Pangilinan, Matt Evans, Andre Paras, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Ynna Asistio, at Aiai dela Alas. Special participation si Janine Gutierrez. Sa direksyon ni Rechie del Carmen. Ang TV series na ito ay unang inalok kay Alden Richards, pero hindi natuloy.
3) Contessa – Isang revenge thriller, na pagbibidahan ni Glaiza de Castro, at kasama sina Geoff Eigenmann, Gabby Eigenmann, at Jak Roberto. Kasama rin sina Lauren Young, Dominic Roco, Leandro Baldemor, Bernadette Allyson. May guest appearance din sina Techie Agbayani at Mark Herras, sa direksyon ni Albert Langitan.
4) Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka- Isang advoca-serye tungkol sa sakit na AIDS, na pangungunahan nina Yasmien Kurdi, Martin del Rosario, Jackie Rice, Mike Tan, Shamaine Buencamino, Charee Pineda, Ina Feleo at Gina Alajar. Sa direksyon ni Neal del Rosario.
Samantala, ipinahayag din ng ABS CBN ang kanilang bagong tv shows para sa taong ito:
1) Pilipinas Got Talent – Sina Billy Crawford at Toni Gonzaga ang mga host ng bagong edisyon ng PGT. Pinalitan ni Toni si Luis Manzano, na original host ng nagdaang ilang taon ng talent show. Tila hindi pa handa si Luis na makasama sa show ang dating kasintahang si Angel Locsin, na muling magbababalik bilang isa sa mga hurado.  Ang iba pang hurado ay sina Robin Padilla, Vice Ganda at Freddie Garcia.
 2) Bagani – isang action drama series na pangungunahan nina Liza Soberano at Enrique Gil.
3) Sana Dalawa ang Puso
4) Playhouse
Ipapalabas din ang mga popular na Korean drama series na The King is in Love, Black, No Ordinary Love at The Blood Sisters.
Balitang tatapusin na ang matagumpay na action series ni Coco Martin na “Ang Probinsyano”, at papalitan  ng isa pang TV version ng sikat na pelikula ni Fernando Poe Jr.

MMFF 2017
Tila bumalik ang sigla ng mga manonood sa pagbalik ng mga pelikulala nina Vice Ganda, Coco Martin at Vic Sotto sa Metro Manila Film Festival sa taong ito. Pinilahan ng mga bata at matanda ang kanilang mga pelikula, at maging ang mga ibang pelikulang kasali ay marami ring nanonood.
Ito ay taliwas sa nakaraang taon kung saan pawang indie films ang ipinalabas, na bagama’t maganda ang intensyon na itaas ang kalidad ng mga pelikulang kalahok, hindi naging maganda ang resulta nito sa takilya.
Sa unang araw ng pagtatanghal noong December 25, nanguna ang Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad na nakakuha ng 22.52% ng manonood, pangalawa ang Ang Panday (17.44%)  at pangatlo ang Meant To Beh ( 14.15%).
Ang ibang pelikulang  kalahok ay ang All Of You (13.14%), The Haunted Forest (12.63%),   Deadma Walking (7.88%), Ang Larawan

What's on where

Rizal Day remembrance activities
Dec 30, 2017, 7am-9am, Central, HK. Laying of wreath at commemorative plaque for Dr Jose Rizal at 5 D’Aguilar Street (exterior wall of Century Square), the site of a clinic where the Philippine national hero practised opthalmology from December 1891 to June 1892. Another wreath-laying will be held at Rednaxela Terrace in Mid-Levels, next to the Central giant escalator, where Rizal lived in a rented flat during his stay in Hong Kong. A third wreath will be laid at a site relating to Rizal on Ice House Street also in Central.

Marching band parade 2017
Dec 30, 2017;   2pm-4pm, Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsimshatsui. A joint presentation of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Marching Band Association. Free admission. For enquiries:  2591 1340 (Leisure and Cultural Services Department) or 2774 0896 (Hong Kong Marching Band Association).

Youth music and dance marathon
Jan 7, 2018, 1pm-8pm. Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Tsimshatsui. Music and dance festival organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Departtment.

PAHK Board 2018 Induction 
Jan 11, 7pm, Philippine Consulate General  Open to all PAHK members past and present, and those interested to join.

Community Thematic Carnival series
Jan 14, 2018; 3m-7pm – The Sheung Shui Legend. Sheung Shui Garden No.1, Sheung Shui, New Territories. Don’t miss the chance to rediscover the fun and joy in the district.

‘Mga Kwentong Pagkain’ Contest
Jan 28, 2018 – Deadline for submitting entries to the Mama Sita Foundation’s contest, “Mga Kwentong Pagkain”
The contest, with the theme “Regional Food Heritage,” is open to all Filipinos abroad who are willing to tell an interesting story about food-detailed accounts of local or regional recipes, ingredients, food preparation, rituals or personal experiences.
For details, email MSF at mgakwentongpagkain @gmail.com.

Baka gusto mo itong salihan

PCG Holidays:
The Philippine Consulate General and its affiliate agencies including POLO will be closed on the following dates:
Dec. 31 (Sunday) – Last Day of the Year
Jan. 1 (Monday) - New Year
Jan. 2 (Tuesday) - Special Non-Working Holiday
In case of emergency, please call 9155 4023 (Consular Assistance), 2866 0540 (POLO) or 6315 8324 (OWWA)

POLO Transfer:  
The public is hereby informed that from Dec. 10, 2017, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has relocated to the 16th and 18th floors of the Mass Mutual Tower, 33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai.  The following services will be provided by POLO: contract processing, OEC and BMOnline registration, OWWA-related matters and inquiries, complaints against employers and employment agencies and labor-related inquiries.

For Tinikling Lovers
The Tinikling Group of Migrants is in need of male/female performers with or without experience, no age limit. TGM performs mostly for the LCSD events. Interested person may contact Marie Velarde @ 67175379, Emz Bautista @ 98512804and Rowena Solir @97331049.

Attention: Rugby enthusiasts
We, the Exiles Touch Rugby group are inviting rugby enthusiasts to join the team. We practice every Sunday at the Happy Valley Pitch 8 from 5pm to 8pmat the Happy Valley Pitch 8.  If interested contact: Ghelai 65414432whatsapp/sms or click like on Exiles HK facebook page

Wanted: softball players
The all-Filipina softball team is now open for tryouts. Those who are interested, especially those with prior experience in the game may contact Team Captain Don Gaborno at 5318-5113

An invitation to play volleyball
Calling sport-minded Filipinas who want to play volleyball. A team is being organized by a group led by Shane Key Gonzales to compete in upcoming volleyball leagues in Hong Kong. Interested parties may contact Shane at 54498080.

Traidor na kamag-anak

Siniraan si Nene sa kanyang amo ng isang kamag-anak na gustong takasan ang utang sa kanya at sa isang financing company.

Dumulog siya sa Konsulado at nitong nakaraang buwan ay nagkaharap silang lahat sa opisina ng assistance to nationals section. Dala-dala ni Nene ang sulat ng kamag-anak sa kanyang amo kung saan hinimok ito na paalisin siyang bigla at huwag bigyan ng kabayaran para sa matagal niyang pagseserbisyo.

Binalaan ng opisyal sa assistance to nationals ang kanyang kamag-anak na huwag nang uulit sa mga gawaing hindi makatao. Pinapirma din ang kamag-anak sa isang kasulatan kung saan inamin niya na may utang siya kay Nene, at nangakong magbabayad.

Pero lumipas ang isang buwan na walang natatanggap si Nene ni singkong bayad mula sa kamag-anak. Ang mas masaklap, noong nakaraang linggo ay may tumawag na kolektor sa bahay ng amo kaya bigla siyang pinababa.

Ibinigay ng amo ang kabayaran para sa kanyang 10 taon na paglilingkod, pero walang sinabing dahilan kung bakit pinutol ang kanilang kontrata. – Merly Bunda

Muntik nang mahuling nagpa-parttime

Si Lenglui  ay isang Ilongga, 38 taong gulang, may asawa at isang anak. Tatlong taon na siyang nagtatrabaho sa kanyang among Intsik.

Noong Dis. 3 ng umaga ay sinundo siya sa MTR station ng isang lalaking Intsik na ibinigay ng kanyang kakilala na Pinay din dahil nagpapahanap daw ng maglilinis ng flat. Dinala siya ng lalaki sa flat niya sa Kennedy Town at sinabi lahat kung anong dapat niya gagawin.

Ayon kay Lenglui makalat at magulo ang lahat na gamit sa bahay at mukha yung lalaki lang ang nakatira doon. Pagkahatid sa kanya ay umalis ang lalaki na nagmamadali dahil daw may ka meeting sa almusal.

Pagkatapos ng mga kalahating oras ay nag text yong lalaki sa kanya at sinabing babalik ito dahil may nakalimutan. Pero bago ito nakabalik ay nakita ni Lenglui ang isang ID ng lalaki na nakasabit sa dingding, at doon niya nakita na isang Immigration officer pala iyong lalaki na may ari ng flat.

Natigilan siya sandali dahil sa pagkagulat, pero agad namang natauhan kaya biglang lumabas nang mabilis. Nag text siya sa lalaki para sabihin na alam niyang bawal sa batas ng Hong Kong ang mag sideline, pero nangako naman siya na hindi na uulit.

Pagkatapos ay agad nang binura lahat ni Lenglui ang mga mensahe sa kanyang whatsapp at pinatay ang kanyang cellphone. Sobrang kaba niya dahil baka daw may sumusunod sa kanya o nakuhan siya ng litrato sa CCTV. Halos hindi siya nakakain noong araw na iyon at umuwi na lang ng maaga sa bahay ng amo.

Hinanap niya yong kakilala niya na nagbigay ng trabaho na iyon pero  hindi na niya nakita. Wala na ito sa kanyang boarding house, at pati na rin sa dating tambayan. Noon niya naisip na sadya siyang ipinain ng kanyang kakilala sa mga pulis.

Sabi ni Lenglui, gusto niyang ibahagi ang kanyang kuwento bilang babala sa mga kapwa OFW na huwag basta magtiwala sa iba, lalo na pagdating sa ilegal na trabaho. Huwag na rin daw gumawa ng ilegal at baka mapahamak lang sila. – Merly Bunda

Lupus ang sakit

Apat na buwan pa lang sa Hong Kong si Jinky Calise Piolo, 32 taong gulang at tubong, Pototan, Iloilo, nang mag-umpisang sumama ang pakiramdam niya noong Okt. 21. Lumipat sila ng tirahan kaya masyadong abala sila ng kanyang kasama na Ilongga din sa pag empake, at pagdating sa bagong bahay, ay ibinalik naman nila ang gamit sa lagayan.

Malaki ang bagong bahay, na hindi kukulangin sa 2,000 square feet ang kabuuang sukat.

Noong gabi ng Okt 20 ay halos hatinggabi na silang kumain ng kasama dahil nagkasundo sila na tapusin na ang lahat ng trabaho. Sa sobrang pagod ay agad siyang nakatulog.

Pagdating ng madaling araw ay bigla siyang sinumpong ng sakit ng paa, na para bang tinutusok ng mga karayom ang kanyang talampakan. Masakit ang mga joints niya at nilalagnat din siya.

Alalang alala na ang kanyang kasama at sinabing tatawagan ang kanilang amo, ngunit pinigil ni Jinky na ang sabi ay malapit na ding mag alas sais ng umaga. Gayunpaman, ipinaalam ng kanyang kasama sa kanilang mga amo ang kanyang kalagayan, at agad naman siyang dinala sa Prince Of Wales Hospital sa Shaitin.

Hindi maalis-alis ang kanyang lagnat, at sobrang sakit ng kanyang mga joints. Ang mga daliri niya ay nagkulay ube at may lumabas na mga rashes sa mukha niya. Pagkatapos ng ilang pagsusuri ay sinabi ng doktor na may lupus si Jinky.

Ang maganda lang, sabi ng doktor, ay hindi naapektuhan ang kanyang kidney. Nakitaan din siya ng spot sa lungs kaya pala hirap siyang huminga. Pero pagkaraan ng ilang araw ay medyo  mahaba na yong nalalakad niya, sa tulong ng nurse. Mabuti na lang at sinabi ng amo niya na magpagaling siya at huwag alalahanin ang gastos. Tuloy pa din daw ang trabaho niya kapag nakalabas siya sa ospital.

Dinadalangin ni Jinky na sana ay tuloy-tuloy na ang kanyang paggaling. Ang inaalala na lang niya ay ang kanyang utang na iniwan sa Iloilo para ipambayad sa kanyang placement fee dahil naniningil na ang nagpautang.

Galing siya ng Singapore kung saan nagtrabaho siya ng apat na taon at kalahati, bago nagdesisyong bumalik sa Iloilo. Nagpahinga muna siya ng limang buwan bago pumunta dito sa Hong Kong. Doon sa Singapore, sabi niya, sigurado siyang wala siyang sakit dahil tuwing anim na buwan ay may medical check up sila.

Si Jinky ay may asawa at dalawang anak na edad walo at pitong taong gulang. – Merly Bunda

Parttime ang dahilan ng pagpapauwi

Nagahol na sa oras si Leny 40, Ilokana, sa paghahanap ng malilipatan nang magdesisyon ang amo niya na hindi pumirma sa bagong kontrata, isang linggo bago maubos ang kanyang visa. Hindi siya nakaimik nang ibalik ng amo ang kanyang kontrata na hindi pirmado, at ibigay ang huling suweldo niya, kasama ang tiket pauwi na naka-book na ng Nob. 30.

Sa loob ng isang linggo ay nagkumahog si Leny sa paghahanap ng bagong amo nguini’t siya ay bigo. Sising sisi siya dahil naging kampante siya sa pag-asang pipirma ulit ng kontrata ang kanyang amo.

Ayon sa kwento niya sa isang kaibigan, maaring may nakapagsumbong sa kanyang amo na nagpapa-parttime siya sa isang restoran na pag aari ng isang Briton na ang asawa ay Pinay.

Dahil sa madaliang pag-alis ay marami sa kanyang mga gamit ang naiwan, kabilang ang ilang groceries, damit, at mga samu’t sari. Pagdating sa Pilipinas ay nagpadala siya ng mensahe sa isang kaibigan kung saan sinabi niya na hindi daw pala maganda ang maghangad ng malaking kita sa parttime, kung ang magiging kapalit nito ay ang pirming trabaho na pangmatagalan.

Natatakot si Leny na baka pati ang motorsiklo na hinuhulugan ng kanyang asawa ay mailit dahil wala na silang inaasahang pera. Panay ang pakiusap niya ngayon sa kaibigan na ihanap siya ng employer at nangangako siya na hindi na siya ulit magpa parttime. - George Manalansan

Tiyaga at tiwala, nagbunga

Pangarap ni Ruth na mapagtapos ng pag aaral ang kanyang mga anak kaya nakipagsapalaran siyang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa Taong 2013 nang siya ay lumisan para magtrabaho sa Hong Kong. Nanilbihan siya sa mag-asawang Intsik na may isang anak, at kasama sa bahay ang ina ng lalaki na biyuda na.

Sanay man sa hirap ay hindi pa rin niya inakala na mas mahirap ang kanyang magiging kapalaran sa piling ng kanyang mga amo, at lalo na sa matandang babae na kasama nila sa bahay. Tutok ang mata nito habang siya ay gumagawa ng gawaing bahay at pinaglalaba siya gamit ang kamay.

Maliban pa sa mahigpit sa paglilinis ang matanda ay pinapatulog rin siya sa ilalim ng mesa na nilatagan lamang ng karton.

Kaya kung sa Pilipinas ay may sarili siyang kuwarto dito ay sa sahig siya natutulog. Hirap man ang kalooban at awa sa sarili ang nararamdaman ay idinadaan na lamang niya sa iyak at dasal ang lahat.

Ayon pa kay Ruth alam ng Diyos ang kanyang paghihirap at pagtitiis, kaya umaasa siya na gagantimpalaan din siya  balang araw. Tiniis niya ang lahat ng hirap at itinuon ang pag-iisip sa kinabukasan ng mga anak. Para makapagtipid ay nagbabaon na lamang ng siya ng pagkain kapag araw ng day off kahit mag isa siyang kumakain sa parke. Ni minsan ay hindi niya inisip na magterminate ng kontrata dahil alam niya na magiging kaw

awa ang kanyang mga anak. Sa kabila nito ay hindi pa rin niya nakalimutan ang magbigay ng ikapu (10% tithe) kaya malakas at matatag ang kanyang kalooban na gagantimpalaan siya ng Diyos. Wala rin siyang sinayang na oras kapag day off dahil nag aaral siya ng ibat ibat kasanayan bilang paghahanda sa pagbabalik niya sa pilipinas.

Dahil sa sakripisyo at tamang pagba budget ay mapapatapos na niya ang kanyang dalawang anak sa kolehiyo sa kurso para sa inhenyero at guro. Siya mismo ay nakapasa rin sa NCII test ng Tesda na ibinibigay sa mga nagtapos ng massage therapy class.

Matapos ang anim na taon na pagtitiis siya ay handa nang mag for good sa darating na taon. Balak niyang magnegosyo sa Pilipinas gamit ang long service na ipinangako ng mga amo. Ayon kay Ruth masaya siya dahil nagawa niyang mapatapos ng pag-aaral ang mga anak, at ngayon ay malapit na niyang makasama muli.

Si Ruth ay tubong Davao at nagtratrabaho sa pamilyang Intsik Tseung Kwan-o. – Ellen Asis

Employer accuses DH of theft, then goes on tour

A Filipina domestic worker is in jail, facing a charge of theft, after her nurse employer accused her of stealing an earring, then left for a holiday.

Friends of Melinda Estalonio, of Chun Mau House, Ko Chun Court, Yautong, told The SUN she was arrested on the evening of Dec 18, three days before her employers left for an overseas tour.

Estalonio, had worked for her employers for 12 years, and was reportedly looking forward to being paid for long service when she decides to go home for good. 

One of her friends contacted The SUN for help on Dec 22 after they could not contact her about their plan to cook food for a Christmas get-together.

The friends went to the flat earlier that day and knocked on the door but no one answered, so they asked the guard and learned that Estalonio was taken away by the police on the evening of Dec 18.

They went to the Kwuntong police station on Dec 22 but were told she was not there.

With the help of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, the helper’s friends were able to locate her on Dec 25 in Tai Lam Women’s Correctional, where she was taken after being charged in court.

One of her friends said Estalonio’s case is set for a hearing in Kwuntong Court on Jan 30. - Vir B. Lumicao

Police arrest Peya Travel owners

By The SUN Hong Kong

Hong Kong police have arrested husband and wife Peter Brian and Rhea Donna Bayona-Boyce, owners of Peya Travel, which was at the center of an airline booking mess over the Christmas holidays.

Police say 645 people, mostly overseas Filipino workers, were affected by the apparent booking scam.  All appear not to have been issued airline tickets, despite Peya’s assurance that they had confirmed flights after collecting the full fare from each of them.

Thirty-eight year old Rhea Donna, or Yanyan to many in the community, was the first to be arrested.  She was picked up from the couple’s flat in Wanchai at noon on Christmas day, and then taken wearing a face mask and her head covered with a pink wrap, to Peya’s office in World Wide Plaza where the police collected documents.

Yanyan, who was the travel agency’s managing director, was detained for two days at the Central Police Station before being allowed to post bail. She was told to report back to the police in early January.

Peter, 59, a retired securities consultant, was taken in shortly after Yanyan’s temporary release. He was released on police bail after being questioned for a full day. He, too, was ordered to report back to the police early next month.

The couple was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to defraud Peya’s customers out of some $2 million in paid plane fares. The travelers had paid an average of $3,000 each for the Philippines-bound flights that they were unable to take.

Police said that since mid-December, they had received complaints from several “foreign women” whose air tickets from PEYA were not honored by airlines.

A 67-year-old local man also reportedly went to the police on Dec. 21 to complain that his company, an air ticket wholesaler, had not been paid for about $3 million worth of tickets it had issued Peya since May this year.

On Dec 28, Benny Hui, a travel agency owner and also a ticket wholesaler, told The SUN he stopped giving credit to Peya at the end of August after a check issued by Yanyan had bounced.

The booking mess initially affected about 100 workers who were scheduled to depart Hong Kong International Airport on Dec 17, but Yanyan told The SUN she managed to book them on other flights at premium fare.

But the apparent scam unraveled when hundreds more Peya customers were unable to board their flights the next day because they were not issued tickets. Airline staff told the irate travelers that Peya had failed to pay for their tickets.

On Monday morning, Dec 18, Peya staff walked out on their jobs after being swamped with complaints by angry customers.

Yanyan and her sales and marketing manager Arnold Grospe were left to handle the growing number of complainants.

Yanyan eventually slipped out and Grospe, for the next two days, faced the hundreds of rowdy customers who demanded to be rebooked on other flights or be refunded their payments.

Grospe was invited to the Central Police station for questioning at the close of business hours on Dec 20, but was released after five hours without any charge being laid against him.

As the unrest mounted, the Consulate led by acting head of post Roderico Atienza began taking down the statements and contact details of the affected Peya customers. A total of 167 Filipinos responded to the call  to lodge complaints, which the Consulate then endorsed to the police for further action.

Deputy Consul General Atienza also wrote a letter to Hong Kong’s Commissioner of Police Lo Wai-chung early on Dec 21 calling for an investigation.

Three days later, Commissioner Lo reportedly visited DCG Atienza amid a growing call for police action on the case.  Yanyan was arrested the next day.

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific Airlines responded to the crisis by announcing that it was sending bigger aircraft to Hong Kong to ferry some of the stranded travelers on its last flights on Dec. 22 and 23.

The airline also said it was charging a”distress fare”, (which one passenger said was only $1,300 for a return  ticket) for the extra seats as a humanitarian gesture.

The next day, Dec. 21, Philippine Airlines also said in a statement that it was sending bigger aircraft to fly out more OFW passengers on the two crucial dates.

About 200 distressed Peya customers reportedly snapped up the extra seats offered by both airlines at heavily discounted fares for the two busiest days of the flying season.

Cebu Pacific then stepped up to the plate by offering 50 free tickets to the affected travelers on a first come, first served basis. However, the slots that were opened were only for the evening flights of Dec. 25, 30 and Jan. 8.

The Philippine government, through Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, upped the ante by offering to pay for the fare of all OFWs who were unable to fly home for the holidays because of the Peya fiasco, subject to the availability of seats.

After negotiating with PAL, the flag carrier, about 50 extra seats that were paid for by the government were offered to the affected passengers.

At the close of business hours on Dec.24, Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre said a total of 101 OFWs had managed to avail of the free tickets on the Cebu Pacific and PAL flights.

The processing of applications for the free seats was handled by staff at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office who put in extra hours to do the job.

On Dec. 27, the processing resumed for OFW applicants who plan to go home before the New Year.

Walang pa ring susi kahit 6 months na sa amo

Anim na buwan na si Mary sa mga amo ngunit wala pa rin siyang susi sa bahay, kaya laging malaking problema tuwing araw ng kanyang day-off. Mahigpit ang bilin ng kanyang amo na huwag siyang magpapahuli ng uwi kapag siya ay lumalabas, kaya laging on time siya sa pagbalik sa kanilang bahay, kahit na nasa Tiu Keng Leng sa New Territories pa iyon.

Ang kaso, ang mga amo ang mahilig umuwi ng gabi kaya madalas na mamuti ang mga mata ni Leni sa kakahintay sa kanila. Gaya na lang nitong nagdaang Pasko.

Bagamat gusto sana ni Mary na makasama pa ng mas matagal ang mga kaibigan sa importanteng okasyon na ito ay minabuti pa rin niyang umuwi ng maaga. Alas siyete pa lang ay nasa pintuan na siya ngunit wala ang kanyang mga amo sa bahay kaya minabuti niyang magtalungko na lang sa harap ng pintuan.

Nag message siya sa kanyang amo ngunit lumipas muna ang isang oras at 20 minuto bago ito sumagot. Sinabi nito na mag message na lang daw ito kapag pauwi na sila. Mabuti na lang at napansin siya ng kanilang kapitbahay at sinabing pumasok muna siya sa kanila dahil malamig sa labas.

Sinabi ni Mary sa amo na pinapasok siya ng kapitbahay para doon muna maghintay at umoo naman sa amo. Nahihiya man na baka nakakaabala na siya sa kapitbahay ngunit hindi sya pinayagang umalis hanggang hindi pa dumarating ang amo.

Laking pasalamat ni Mary sa kapitbahay dahil sa mabuti nitong puso, kundi ay napagod siya nang husto sa kakatayo sa labas dahil umabot sa apat na oras bago umuwi ang kanyang amo.

At kahit day off niya, alam ni Mary na papagtrabahuin pa siya ng amo pagdating nito, kaya siguradong puyat na naman siya.

Sa kabila nito ay ayaw pa rin ni Mary na mag “break contract” ng dahil lang sa susi. Ang mas mahalaga sa kanya ay nakakatanggap siya ng sahod kada buwan kaya titiisin na lang daw muna niya ang kanyang walang tiwalang amo hanggang matapos ang kanilang kontrata. Gayunpaman, gusto pa rin niyang kausapin ang kanyang amo para manghingi ng susi. —-Rodelia Villa

PCG warns vs. facial cream with excessive mercury

Filipinos are being warned by the Consulate against buying a facial cream that may contain excessive amounts of mercury, thus posing a health risk.

The Consulate accompanied the warning with a press release from the Centre for Health Protection of Hong Kong’s Department of Health that urged the public not to buy or use the cosmetic product, Zi Xin Mei Spots Removing Night Cream.

The appeal followed the CHP’s receipt of notification of a case of mercury poisoning from the Hospital Authority involving a female patient aged 30. The CHP commenced investigations immediately.

The patient, with good past health, has developed swelling of her lower limbs since November and provided a recent history of use of the above product for one to two months before symptoms appeared.

Her urine sample revealed a mercury level 14 280 times the acceptable reference level and this was clinically suspected to be related to the use of the product.

The CHP’s investigation is continuing, and the case has been referred to the relevant law enforcement agency for follow-up.

“Chronic exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms may include tremors, irritability, insomnia, deterioration of memory, difficulty in concentration, impaired hearing and vision, and change in the taste function. In severe cases, renal failure may occur,” a spokesman for the CHP explained.

 ”As the mercury content of the product far exceeded the acceptable level, its use may result in serious side-effects…Members of the public are urged not to buy or use cosmetic products of unknown composition or obtained from doubtful sources,” the spokesman said.

Stranded sa HK dahil sa Peya

Isa si Perla, 56 at taga Pampanga, sa nakabili sa palpak na air ticket ng Peya Travel. Halos maiyak siya nang sabihin sa kanya sa check-in counter ng Philippine Airlines na wala ang kanyang pangalan sa listahan ng mga pasahero sa PR313 na paalis ng 7:50 ng umaga noong Dec. 18.

Galit na galit siya dahil noon lang nangyari sa kanya ang ganoon. Ilang buwang paghahanda, pag-iisip, pagba-budget at pagkundisyon sa isip ang pinagdaanan niya sa pag-asang makakauwi at makakapiling ang pamilya sa kapaskuhan. 

Kasama ang ilan pang pasahero ng Peya na ganoon din ang kinabagsakan ay agad silang tumawag sa ahensiya at pinangakuan sila na isasakay sa eroplano na paalis ng 4pm, pero hindi pa kumpirmado. Sumakit ang ulo ni Perla dahil sa dami ng alalahanin, lalo na at hindi siya nakatulog noong nagdaang gabi sa paninigurong walang aberyang mangyayari sa bakasyon niya.

Pati ang mga susundo sana sa kanya sa Maynila ay pinabalik niya sa Pampanga nang malaman na nakaalis na sila at nasa San Simon expressway na. Ayaw na niyang umasa sa pangako ng Peya kaya nagpatulong sa isang kaibigan na residente na i-book na lang siya sa Cebu Pacific papunta ng Clark airport, kahit $5,300 na ang halaga ng return air ticket, at 20 kilos lang ang pwedeng dalhin na bagahe. Nagbayad siya ng dagdag na $300 dahil may excess baggage siya.

Nagbabala siya sa ibang kapwa pasahero na kumpirmahin diretso sa airline kung talagang nakasama sila sa listahan ng pasahero para sa kanilang flight at hindi makaranas ng aberya na katulad ng sinapit niya.

At sa mga travel agency, nakiusap siya na huwag tutulad sa Peya, “maawa naman po kayo sa amin”, ang sabi niya.

Balak ni Perla ngayon na sumali sa mga nagreklamo laban sa Peya pagbalik niya sa Hong Kong, para man lang maibalik ang perang ibinayad niya sa kanila, at kung maari ay pabayad din ang perhuwisyong inabot niya ng dahil sa kanilang kapalpakan.– George Manalansan

Duterte claims success in war vs crime, drugs

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported an 8.44 percent decrease in the total crime volume nationwide from 493,912 reported crimes in October 2016 to 452,204 in October 2017.

It also noted the decrease in index crime at 20.56 percent, with robbery incidents fewer by 23.61 percent from 18,259 in October 2016 to 13,948 in October 2017.

In the war on illegal drugs, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque claimed it was “hugely successful, citing combined data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), showing that 1,308,078 drug addicts have surrendered to the government as of July 26, 2017; while authorities have arrested 118,287 individuals as of November 27, 2017 during 79,193 anti-drug operations in the same period.

“I think the communities are safer and our young people are better protected against drugs,” Roque said in a recent interview.

He said he expects fewer allegations of human rights violations tied to the illegal drugs drug clampdown. “I think it’s human experience that we should hear less complaints because we know how to do it better,” he added.

“The Duterte administration has accomplished much in its first full year in office in 2017. The President’s decisive leadership, plus the strong collaboration among various government agencies, has resulted in the attainment of many of the priorities set out by the national government in the last 12 months,” said part of a 63-page accomplishment report of the Duterte administration.

It said authorities seized illegal substances worth P18.92 billion; and that 4,747 barangays have been declared drug-free as of November 27, 2017.

However, the same report said only 3,967 drug personalities have died in the government’s war on drugs as of November 27, 2017 while 16, 355 homicide cases are still under investigation, the joint data added.

Human rights groups have been citing more than 13, 000 deaths attributed to the government’s aggressive war on drugs.  Human rights advocates classified the deaths as “extrajudicial killings” as they claim that Duterte’s rhetoric has emboldened policemen to use shortcuts in the anti-drug crackdown.

A prevailing narrative in anti-drug operations is the “nanlaban” claim of the police operatives, wherein suspects killed allegedly fought back and resisted arrest. Critics, however, decry extrajudicial killings in the process as they point out that those killed in the drug war have yet to face a court to try allegations against them.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said “crucial reforms” will be undertaken in the year ahead to achieve President Duterte’s commitment to eliminate illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption in government.

In a 63-page yearend report released on Tuesday, Roque said Duterte and his administration would “act in urgency” to give “the Filipino people a safe, secure, and comfortable environment through his key platforms of providing law and order, lasting peace, and prosperity for all.”

Duterte promised to rid the country of drugs and criminality in six months, but later asked for a longer deadline, insisting he was not aware of the gravity of the drug problem.

1.28M Filipinos leave for overseas jobs, 1.17M repatriated in 2017

The government recorded 1.28 million Filipinos who left the country for overseas employment in the first nine months of 2017 while 1.17 million others were brought back home for various reasons from different countries, mostly from the Middle East.

According to partial statistics from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), 1.06 million of those who left for overseas work from January to September were land-based workers while 22, 477 were mostly seafarers.

However, only 321, 345 of those who left were new hires. The rest were re-hires.

The POEA suspended the deployment of new hires for 15 days in November purportedly to control illegal recruitment operations involving certain officials and employees of the agency.

While Filipino workers continue to seek employment abroad, more have also been receiving repatriation and reintegration benefits from the government.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said 1,170,514 OFWs received welfare and protection programs, including reintegration and repatriation services from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in 2017.

From July to October of this year, 54,470 OFWs and their families benefitted from the government’s intensified reintegration programs, including skills training and livelihood assistance, the labor chief reported.

He said 36,438 OFWs, mostly from the Middle East, were repatriated and provided with on-site assistance and P20, 000 financial aids each.

A total of 9,512 repatriated OFWs were provided additional cash grants of P6, 000 each while 13,245 OFWs were given food and hygiene kits each.

In connection with the 90-day amnesty program of Saudi Arabia for undocumented and stranded foreign nationals, OWWA also recorded a total of 15,839 Filipino migrant workers who took up the amnesty, 10,011 of whom were repatriated to the Philippines.

The DOLE released a total of P514, 412,350.21 to provide various assistance to OFWs, such as food and hygiene kits, legal counseling and stress debriefing, medical and psycho-social services and training assistance.

Bello said DOLE sought bigger budget for next year’s repatriation program because the government needs to prepare for the possible repatriation of OFWs in Qatar and other Middle East countries due to prevailing conflicts. “The situation in Qatar is still stable, but we cannot just relax our guard, we are talking of 240,000 Filipinos staying there,” he said.