House coup plotters in disarray over plum posts

Allies of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who had installed her as speaker of the House of Representatives have vowed to settle the leadership row by next week to restore order in the legislative chamber.

“We will try to resolve the majority leadership issue on Monday,” Rep. Michael Romero of 1-Pacman said in a television interview.
After that, he said, the leadership would attempt to settle the row involving the position of minority leader.

So far, only the position of Speaker has been filled following the ouster of former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in a chaotic leadership change on Monday before and after President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

With Arroyo’s clearance, deputy speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. has since been presiding over the session, while another deputy speaker, Fredenil Castro of Capiz, has been serving as acting majority leader.

Reports said Arroyo prefers Andaya, who had served as her budget secretary, to be the successor of Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, who was majority leader under Alvarez.

But a group of Arroyo allies is working for the retention of Fariñas, who told his colleagues last Wednesday that he was still majority leader since he has not been formally replaced.

Aside from the critical position of majority leader, up for grabs are the chairmanships of at least four committees whose chairmen either did not vote for Arroyo or are sticking it out with Alvarez.

They are Reynaldo Umali of Mindoro Oriental, committee on justice; Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, good government; Dakila Cua of Quirino, ways and means; and Roger Mercado of Leyte, constitutional amendments.

Albay’s Joey Salceda, senior vice chairman of the ways and means committee, is expected to replace Cua.

Other Arroyo allies want to grab other important committee assignments. A Lakas loyalist of hers from Mindanao is reportedly interested in the committee on accounts, which manages House funds.

The chamber has P11.2 billion for this year.

Batangas Rep. Elenita Milagros Buhain, whose father Eduardo Ermita served as executive secretary of the former president during her Malacañang days, chairs the accounts committee.

The minority leadership quarrel is a bigger headache for the new Speaker. The current minority leader is Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez. At least three colleagues want to wrestle the post from him: Edcel Lagman of Albay, Romero Quimbo of Marikina and Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers.

Lagman heads the independent minority group Magnificent 7, while Quimbo, who is a deputy speaker and was part of the majority, is the leader of the Liberal Party in the House. Tinio belongs to the seven-member leftist Makabayan bloc.

Add to these three is the group of Alvarez, who said in a television interview over the weekend that he wanted to “join the minority but not the opposition.”

Ex-OFW entrepreneur gives pep talk on doing business

By Daisy CL Mandap

“If you want change, you must start by changing yourself.”

This was the core message of Myrna Padilla, a former overseas worker in Hong Kong turned chief executive officer of her own software company, when she spoke at the 1st anniversary celebration of Surigaonon Association at Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town on Jul 8.

Padilla said a lack of proper education or means, should not hinder anyone from succeeding in life.

She cited her own humble beginnings in Bohol, where she reached only up to second year in high school and married early, before deciding to go to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper.

Padilla, who was recently honored by the Philippine Association in Hong Kong as one of its Most Valuable Pinoy awardees for 2018, said it was her hunger for learning that prodded her to develop her talents and potential.

From learning how to use a “mouse” from her young ward, she went on to form Mynd Consulting, which provided IT support to US-based companies, and staffed by the best software engineers in Davao City.

Her advise to OFWs who aspire to set up their own businesses was to keep the passion in whatever they do, and always aspire for originality.

“Doing business is not a matter of copy and paste,” she said.

After her speech, Padilla was awarded a certificate of appreciation by Surigaonon leader Resty Suareza, who was profuse in thanking the guest speaker who flew all the way from Davao to join them for the occasion.

Suareza is concurrently chairman of Mindanao Federation, which was founded by Padilla, who also acted as its leader until she decided to go home for good.

A surprise guest was Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, who revealed in private talks that he had just been reinstated to his post, and will return to Hong Kong on  Aug. 1.

3 UP students track Diaspora with Mission help

By Vir B. Lumicao

Three female Political Science majors of the University of the Philippines Manila are on a two-week internship at Mission for Migrant Workers to document OFW experiences in Hong Kong as material for their thesis.

Justin Francia, Trisha Aguilar and Joy Asuelo, all 19-year-old senior students who could be mistaken for high school kids, arrived on Jul 4 and have been using their 14-day visa-free visit interacting with other international volunteers and interns at the Mission.

While living and working with clients of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge in Sheung Wan, the students hope to understand better the plight of migrant workers in Hong Kong as they study the root of the modern-day Diaspora in Philippine society.

“Hopefully, we can use these experiences for our thesis topic,” said Francia, associate editor of the Manila Collegian and photographer of the group. She said they had a two-week internship at Migrante in Manila before coming to Hong Kong.

Carl Marc Ramota, assistant professor at UP Manila’s Department of Social Sciences who accompanied the students to Hong Kong, told The SUN that the internship is part of the practicum program of the Political Science course.

“For our section, the theme of our practicum program is labor and migration, so, it’s primarily the choice of working organizations because the Mission for Migrant workers is based on the theme itself,” Ramota said.

“So, we want to explore this type of partnership to expose our students to the plight of migrant workers here in Hong Kong,” he said.

Ramota said this is the second year that UP Manila has sent students for an internship at the Mission. Last year, the school also sent three interns, limiting the number due to logistical concerns and the capacity of partner organizations to accommodate them. 

Ramota said this is a relatively shorter program than those of other interns because of Hong Kong’s visa constraints. The students, who came here at their own expense, will return home on Jul 17.

Justin Francia, Trisha Aguilar and Joy Asuelo have been living and working with clients of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge in Sheung Wan.

Aguilar said Ramota requires all his students to do internship in the direction of labor and migration because he wants to open their eyes to the root causes of labor migration.

“Ipinapakita sa aming mga estudyante kung gaano kalala ang  sitwasyon sa Pilipinas, kaya napipilitan ang mga Pilipino na mag-migrate, (kahit) 50-50 ang chance nila na makakuha ng magandang employer o yung employer na tinatrato silang parang hindi tao,” Aguilar said.

As part of their training, the girls tagged along with Mission director Cynthia Abdon-Tellez on Jul 8 to Chater Road, where they helped man the Mission and Bethune House booths at the anniversary celebration of United Filipinos in Hong Kong.

Whenever there is a break from their internship tasks, the three go sight-seeing, or share moments with the distressed wards at Bethune House.

“The migrants in the shelter are including us in their daily routines,” Francia said. “Most of them are also really talkative and we really enjoy our kuwentuhan with them,”

The arrival of the three was just in time for the “thank you and welcome” treat that the Mission gave on Jul 6 to their volunteers and interns at the Fanny Li Hall of the St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central.

Johan Tong of the Mission said the volunteers came from Britain and the United States, Finland, and other countries. Some are with Hong Kong organizations which advocate for the welfare of migrant workers.

     

Getting avocados to ripen quickly

When cooking, many people are often taken aback by a dilemma that may seem easy to most, but could be difficult to others, especially those pressed for time and just want to get on with the chore.

One such problem is the question of how ripe is ripe for a fruit, and how can one hasten the ripening process to better plan their menu.

A fruit that often leaves people puzzled is the avocado, especially the small, roundish ones that are most prevalent in supermarkets or wet markets, and are imported from Australia or New Zealand.

For Filipinos, knowing when this type of fruit will ripen could be a big question mark, as they are often sold rock-hard and with no semblance to the Philippine variety we are more acquainted with. In the Philippines, if you buy the local variety unripe, chances are you could already use it for salads or dessert after just one or two days.

Not so with the kind usually sold in Hong Kong, which could remain hard to the touch for days. Sometimes, they get forgotten because of this, and end up being too mushy to use. Considering their cost, this could be quite disheartening.

Faced with the dilemma of ensuring her avocados are ripe enough for the day when she’d need them, Katrina Montoya-Paragas asked her fellow members in the Domestic Workers Corner this question: “Hello po, ask ko sana kung anu yung dapat gawin para madaling mahinog ang avocado?? Kasi 5days na itong nabili matigas parin?”

From about a dozen replies, the most common was one familiary to most Pinoys: Put them in your rice container.

One added this extra bit: Make sure they are well-covered by the rice.

Another suggested wrapping them in newspaper, another said they should be put inside a tightly sealed plastic bag.

Other suggestions were more unusual: One said, put them inside a brown bag with an apple and check after one day. Another suggested putting them together with big brown onions and leave them uncovered in the kitchen or living room, adding her employer taught her this. “Effective naman po,” she said.

But the hands-on winner in terms of immediacy was this suggestion: Put them in the microwave; when cooked, they should be ready to eat.

Katrina went with the most popular suggestion of burying her precious fruits in the rice box. So the jury is still out on which method is most effective.

Turning now to the biggest challenge often faced by members of DWC, which is preparing their employer’s daily meals. Being on a tight budget often adds to the problem.

Linalene J. Galvez met the challenge head on recently when she prepared two simple but from the looks of it, flavorful dishes of chicken and minced meat for her employers.

She shared the recipes and photos as below:

marinate minced pork with garlic,pepper,sugar,dark soysauce pampakulay lng po tas ibalot n po sa plastic para mai roll po...tas fry
LINARINE J GALVEZ

FBCHK sets 7th anniversary costume bowling tournament

By Vir B. Lumicao

Fancy yourself as Wonder Woman, Charlie Chaplin or a Cordillera warrior rolling a tenpin bowling ball?

Well, the rare opportunity is coming your way on Oct 7, when the Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong celebrates its seventh anniversary with a bowling party at South China Athletic Association Bowling Centre in Causeway Bay.

Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong promises fun in tournament.

The fun at the 60-lane bowling centre at 88 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay, will begin at 10am and end at 4pm.

Jenny Gafate, founder and chairwoman of FBCHK, said this year’s celebration will be a lot more fun than in previous years because bowlers will have to wear funny costumes.

 “We also have free food and drinks for everyone. Kakaibang anniversary ito…nakikita kong masaya,” said Gafate.

Lucky participants will take home prizes in a raffle draw that is part of the merriment, the FBCHK said in a poster on Facebook.

The celebration is open to all interested persons or teams who are willing shell out a joining fee of $1,200 per team of four. 

Gafate said funds raised from the joining fee, which already includes the SCAA playing fee of $120 for three games, will go to a good cause.

“We’re doing it to raise funds for our future projects here in Hong Kong and in the Philippines,” Gafate said.

Every year the club uses the funds raised from its bowling tournaments to undertake charity projects, such as the feeding program for Aetas that FBCHK carried out in Subic, Zambales, on Apr 30 this year.

All-Filipina Fate is one game away from being HK's softball champion

By Emz Frial

The all-Filipina softball team Fate is one step away to victory in the Hong Kong Softball Association’s regular league. The team now leads the current season’s tournament with 10 wins and no loss.

Fate won its 10th game on Jul 22 at Shek Kip Mei field against locals Deborah, 22-3, in a game that lasted five innings.

All smiles: Fate and Deborah players pose for a picture after the game

First to bat was Myra Japitana who blasted an outfield ball that allowed her to get to second base. Then Eunice Locop batted and was safe to first base. Third batter Maribel Sitchon smashed the ball to the outfield, then ran up to the second base, while Japitana and Locop all reached home.

Later Sitchon also ran to home base when Don Gaborno hit a short infield ball. Gaborno also reached home safely, which all added up to four points for Fate.

When the locals took their turn to bat, only four players managed to stand on the batters’ box. The first of their batters was caught on a flyball by short stop Editha Hidalgo, while the second and fourth batters were called standing out.

The score remained at 4-0 in Fate’s favor at the end of the inning.

In the second inning Fate added three more to its score, courtesy of Japitana, Locop and Gaborno.  Again, the Filipinas’ tight defense made it difficult for the locals to step on the bases.

The first batter on the other side was caught on a flyball by center fielder Sitchon,  while the next two batters were both caught on the first base. 

The second inning ended with scores at 7-nil, again in Fate’s favor.

Deborah bounced back with a vengeance in the third inning, scoring three points while preventing Fate from reaching home base. Those who scored for the local team were Chiu Ka Yee,  Ngai Sze Hing and Hui  Ka Wai. 

That brought the score to 7-3 for Fate, at the end of the inning.

But Fate’s luck was not over yet. The team scored a bounty of 8 points in the fourth inning, raising their score to 15. The locals were again blanked. Those who scored for Fate were ; Hidalgo,  Jonalyn Cupag,  Percy Jayme, Juliet Fernandez, May Ledesma, Japitana, Locop and Sitchon. 

With the scores at 15-3 for Fate at the end of the fourth inning, the writing was clearly on the wall.

But there was still no stopping Fate. By the end of the fifth and final inning, the locals had added 7 more points, making the final score 22-3 in their favor.

Team captain Gaborno was understandably pleased and thankful for the overwhelming win, and again credited it to the cooperation and unity among the players.

Fate is set to play its last game of the season on Jul 29 at Tin Kwong Road field, against Red Castle Infinity.

OFW in Kwong Wah appeal dies of stroke

By Daisy CL Mandap

A Filipina domestic worker died of stroke in Kwong Wah Hospital early on Monday, Jul 23, two days after an appeal for help to get her family in the Philippines by her bedside before she passed on went viral on Facebook.

Kwong Wah's letter

Bernadett Manalo Natividad, 37, married and a resident of Guiguinto, Bulacan, died without regaining consciousness. But officers at the Consulate said her sister and a group of friends managed to gather at the hospital a day after she was rushed there in critical condition. She died a few hours afterwards.

Natividad’s medical condition became known to thousands of people in the community after a letter from Kwong Wah asking for help in facilitating the travel to Hong Kong of her family in the Philippines, went viral on Facebook.

“The abovenamed patient was admitted on the 21^st July 2018 for severe hemorrhagic stroke. Her condition is critical and life-threatening. The patient will pass away at any moment,” said the letter, which was accompanied by a copy of the Filipina's Hong Kong ID.

”It has come to our attention that she has family members residing in the Philippines. For her sake, please consider the early processing of their application to visit the patient as soon as possible,” the letter urged.

Weloff Tamayao 

According to the Virsie Tamayao of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office, Natividad’s employer was the one who called for help after finding the helper unconscious on the night of Jul 21.

The employer also called up OWWA’s hotline to report on the case, and was coordinating with the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate on the preparations for repatriating the victim’s remains.

Tamayao said she personally went to Kwong Wah on Jul 22 to extend assistance, but Natividad was still in intensive care at the time, fighting for her life. Only a nurse reportedly briefed her on the patient’s condition.

Natividad was reportedly married with two young children. Her husband had already been notified of her death. She had been working in Hong Kong since 2015, but has been with her current employer for just a little over a year.

According to Tamayao, the worker’s family would be entitled to the Php100,000 death benefit plus Php20,000 funeral assistance extended to all OWWA members. In addition, one of her children would be given scholarship until she finishes college, in line with OWWA’s Education and Livelihood Assistance Program.

Ang hinaharap para sa iyo

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Iwasan ang mahahabang biyahe, pero makakabuti ang pagpunta sa malalapit na lugar. Mag-ingat sa maliliit na aksidente; upang maiwasan ang nerbiyos, mag-ehersisyo sa malawak na lugar. Tagumpay ka sa trabaho at sa lipunan pero manatiling simple at mapagkumbaba. Magiging masaya sa pag-ibig at nanaisin mong ialay ang lahat sa minamahal; matutumbasan rin ito ng pagmamahal.    Lucky numbers: 3, 15, 26 at 38.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Ang malaking proyektong inaasam ay unti-unti nang nagkakahugis, huwag madaliin upang hindi ito lumubog. Madali kang kapitan ng sakit ngayon kaya mag-ingat. Kung hindi naniniwala, huwag mahiyang sabihin ito, kahit pa taliwas ito sa paniwala ng nakakarami. Hindi maiwasang mag-alala sa isang personal na problema kaya hindi ka mapakali, huwag mangamba dahil madali mong makokontrol ang sitwasyon at manunumbalik din ang kapayapaan ng loob.  Lucky numbers: 19, 28, 31 at 43.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Mas magiging maganda ang resulta kung magiging mahinahon ka sa mga anak kaysa magalit. Mag-ingat sa posibleng pagdating ng malaking problema sa pera! Malaki ang tsansa na tumagal ang  relasyon mo sa mga bagong kaibigan. Kung laging mataas ang presyon ng dugo at maraming nararamdaman sa katawan, sundin lang ang payo ng doktor at maaayos din ang kalagayan. Lucky numbers: 17, 21, 30 at 40.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Makakasiguro ka sa magandang takbo ng trabaho at pakikipag-ugnayan, pero ang pagiging pabaya at kakulangan sa tiyaga ay may mabigat na kapalit. Ang love affair ay mamumukadkad. Kung nahihirapang matulog, bawasan o tigilan ang stimulants gaya ng kape o sigarilyo. Dagdagan ang pagkain ng gulay. Tamang panahon ito sa paglilipat. Marami kang makikilalang tao na malayo sa katangian mo, pero makakasundo mo at magbibigay sa iyo ng bagong pananaw. Lucky numbers: 15, 33, 41 at 45.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Magiging mapanukso ka ngayon, pero huwag asahang aayunan ka ng kapartner. Sa trabaho, hindi masasayang ang pinagpaguran at ilang mabubuting kasamahan ang tutulong sa iyo. May dahilan ka para matakot sa away o masangkot sa argumento. Mapipilitan kang tanggapin na wala ka nang matatakbuhan, pero magkakaroon ka pa rin ng pagkakataong makaalpas, kumilos ka agad!  Lucky numbers: 7, 29, 36 at 42. 

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Bigyan ng atensyon ang pangangatawan, kung hindi ay mahihirapan kang ibalik ang dating pigura. Iwasang maghangad ng labis at baka mauwi lang sa kabiguan. Huwag ding  maging mapaghanap sa mga taong malalapit sa iyo. Sayang kung hindi mo gagamitin ang mga bagay o katangian nasasa-iyo na. Kung nakaranas ng sobrang kagipitan, ngayon ay kakasihan ka ng swerte at mas magiging malakas at matibay ka kaysa dati.  Lucky numbers: 13, 27, 34 at 44.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Nasa posisyon ka ngayong tapusin na ang pananahimik at hindi umurong sa mga  delikadong usapin kaya matapang ka na ring hingin ang nararapat sa iyo. Lalakas ang kapit mo sa puwesto. Makakaranas ng problema sa bituka.  Ang relasyon sa pag-ibig ay lalong iinit. Mag-ingat sa pagbitaw ng malaking pera sa mga bagay na hindi ka sigurado; kung gusto mong mag-invest ng malaki, kumunsulta sa mga eksperto.   Lucky numbers: 9, 14, 26 at 41.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Marami kang dapat gawin, pero kulang ka sa sigla at inspirasyon; makakabuti ang kauting oras sa piling ng mga kaibigan para ganahan ka. Maging maingat sa pagmamaneho o paggamit ng makinarya dahil mabagal ang kilos mo ngayon. Maganda ang takbo ng iyong pananalapi. Magpakita ng diplomasya sa lahat ng pakikipag-usap. Tahimik sa trabaho, pero maging alerto sa mga pagbabagong magaganap. Lucky numbers: 18, 25, 31 at 42.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Tamang panahon na balikan ang pag-aaral, pagkuha ng pagsusulit o training course. Mag-ingat sa lahat ng pwedeng mauwi sa problemang legal. Umiwas muna sa shellfish, hilaw na gulay at produktong gawa sa gatas. Pagkakataon na rin na ito na patibayin pa ang relasyon sa magulang at mga anak. Maganda ang takbo ng pananalapi. Maganda at malaking pagbabago ang magaganap, at makikinabang ka ng husto; magkakaroon ka ng malalaking proyekto.  Lucky numbers: 16, 31, 32, at 39.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Buong tapang mong haharapin ang mga problemang dumarating. Kung matatanda na ang magulang, lalong lalala ang tensyon sa pagitan nyo, dagdagan ang pasensya at unawa.  Mas magiging malambing ka sa karelasyon, pero mas magiging mapaghanap ka rin kaysa dati. Kung umiinom ng antibiotics, dagdagan ang pagkain ng yogurt na makakatulong sa bituka na naaapektuhan ng malakas na gamot. Lucky numbers: 9, 16, 20 at 29.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Iwasang mag-isip ng mga nakakalungkot na bagay. Sa trabaho, dagdagan ang atensyon at konsentrasyon upang makuha ang tamang resulta. Ingatan ang atay at baga; kailangan mo ng sariwang hangin at umiwas sa sobrang paninigarilyo at pag-inom ng alak at kape. Madali kang mainis kahit sa maliliit na dahilan at nababagalan ka sa takbo ng mga bagay, kaya iniiwasan ka ng mga kasamahan mo. Iwasang mag-init ang ulo. Lucky numbers: 8, 24, 28 at 42. 

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Marami kang bagong makikilala at matutuhan na makakaapekto sa iyong pananaw at paniniwala. Sa trabaho, maganda ang resulta ng pinagpaguran, manating realistiko. May senyales ng aksidente, umiwas munang magmaneho o doblehin ang pag-iingat sa linggong ito. Makakakita ka ng kapayapaan at kalinga sa tahanan. Maniguro sa tibay at kalidad ng bagay na binibili upang hindi magsisi. Huwag maging mapagmataas at bawasan ang pagsusuplada. Lucky numbers: 11, 16, 21, at 40. 

Another Pinay accused of stealing diamond ring

Another Filipina helper is being held in jail to await her trial after being accused of stealing her employer’s diamond ring.

Judibeth Yarcia appeared in Eastern Court on Jul 10, where the amended part of her charge sheet was read to her by a Tagalog court interpreter.

The court was told that between February and May 5 this year, Yarcia was accused of taking a diamond ring that belonged to her employer.

The prosecutor asked Magistrate Peter Law to adjourn the case to Aug 7 for plea-taking. He also said he would object to granting bail as the case was serious and the defendant had no local ties.

Law granted the adjournment and told the defendant she could apply for bail at the Court of First Instance. He ordered the defendant returned to jail while awaiting the decision in her baiul plea.

22-24 months for shopping with stolen credit card

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipino buddies who pleaded guilty to using a stolen credit card in March last year to buy three laptop computers and a guitar were sent to jail for 2 years and 22 months, respectively, by a District Court judge on Jul 12.

Judge Don So meted out the sentences after Hong Kong residents Manuel Roldan and Edward Reyes admitted the charges.

Roldan, a 49-year-old waiter who was charged with one count of theft and four counts of obtaining property by deception, drew a 24-month jail term.

Reyes, a 50-year-old musician and friend of Roldan who joined the shopping spree, was sentenced to 22 months for three counts of obtaining property by deception.

The case was transferred to the District Court in Wanchai from Eastern Court in Sai Wan Ho because of the seriousness of the offenses, according to Magistrate Bina Chainrai.

The prosecution report said Roldan stole a Bank of China MasterCard credit card owned by a certain Lam Chi-hau on Mar 1 last year. Using the card, he immediately went to a shop in 298 Computer Zone in Wanchai and bought a laptop computer for $1,956.  He was charged with obtaining property by deception for this.

Roldan was later joined by Reyes, and together they used the card to buy a second laptop computer worth $3,750 from Cyber System Computer shop, and a third laptop for $3,330 at Wise Computer Technology Co, both in the Wanchai Computer Centre,

Afterwards, they went to a Tom Lee Music shop at City Centre on Gloucester Road, Wanchai and bought a bass guitar and an effect machine for guitar for a total of $9,450.

They were arrested on an unspecified date after the card issuer alerted the cardholder about the series of purchases.

‘Abused’ worker breaks contract, wins claim against her employer

By Vir B. Lumicao
 

A diminutive Filipina domestic worker showed her employer she could not take the bad treatment she was getting from his wife and quit her job just 16 days into her work contract, and the Labour Tribunal supported her.

In a hearing on Jul 6, presiding officer Eric Tam ordered the employer to pay Joy Verzola her wages for the 16 days she had worked for the family and give her money for her air ticket back to the Philippines.

All in all, Verzola received $3,452 from Liu Chung Hang as payment for arrears in wages, including $1,200 for a one-way plane ticket home, and $100 in travel and food allowance. 

Initially, Liu refused to pay her wages and demanded that he be paid a month’s pay in lieu of notice because Verzola broke their contract on May 4 and refused to stay on until Jun 25.

But Tam told Liu that the worker had the right to terminate the contract if she was assaulted by the employer’s wife as she had claimed.

When Tam asked Liu to tell his side of the case, the employer said the helper just made up some of the charges. But the presiding officer rebuked Liu, asking why it was he and not his wife who was at the Tribunal. Tam said Liu’s wife should submit a statement.

“If this case goes to trial, your wife will be called to give evidence,” Tam said.

“You don’t know what is happening at home when you are at work. It’s a matter of common sense that your wife should be a witness. If (Verzola) is assaulted by your wife, she has the right to terminate the contract,” he added.

After the hearing, Verzola told The SUN she could not stand Mrs Liu’s treatment of her so she decided to break her contract. On the first occasion, the woman allegedly pulled her hair, hit her hands and grabbed her nape tightly, so she told her employment agency, and they in turn talked to her employers.

On May 4, Mrs Liu allegedly pulled the maid’s hair again after being told staff from the employment agency was coming to fetch her. Verzola called the police and they took her statement, but she did not press charges.

She said she left the Liu home penniless and was given shelter at Bethune House  Migrant Women’s Refuge.

  Verzola, an HRM graduate in the Philippines, arrived in Hong Kong on Apr 19 for her first employment overseas. The 24-year-old mother from Nueva Vizcaya said she paid P19,000 for her training and medical checkup.

Anti-Duterte protest held ahead of SONA

Lestari called Duterte 'evil'

By Daisy CL Mandap

About 50 members of various migrant and community organizations staged a protest outside the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong today to denounce President Rodrigo R. Duterte ahead of his third State of the Nation Address in Manila.

Most vocal in their criticism of President Duterte were two foreign nationals who expressed solidarity for Filipinos, including Indonesian Eni Lestari, chair of the International Migrant Alliance, who said the Philippine president is “turning to be an “evil leader.”

“We in the international community believe Duterte should not be supported anymore,” Lestari said, citing among his alleged misdeeds the killing of innocent Filipinos in the name of the drug war, and his blatant disrespect for women.

Ma Wan Ki, a local Chinese who is secretary general of the International Confederation for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines, called Duterte a “bully”, saying that for all his tough talk, he has not been able to go after big drug lords in the country.

 

Ma blasted at the extra-judicial killings

“He has done nothing except for the (shedding of) blood of the innocents,” said Ma.

Pastor Joram Calimutan, who represented the Promotion of Church People’s Response, blasted Duterte’s failure to address the problems of Filipinos, particularly the looming economic crisis brought about by heavy borrowing and rampant corruption.

“Walang ginagawa ang kasalukuyang administrasyon para matigil ang krisis, at sasabihin pa na istupido ang Diyos,” said Calimutan, who also decried other church people who  continue to openly support Duterte despite his anti-religion and anti-god rhetoric.

He also sounded alarm bells over Duterte’s alleged plan to bring in 10,000 construction workers in China as part of his “build, build, build” campaign, even if there are millions of Filipinos who don’t have jobs.

Pastor Calimutan spoke for church people

Speaking for Filipino migrant workers was Dolores Balladares, chair of United Filipinos in Hong Kong, who called out the Philippine leader for failing to deliver on his campaign promise to provide them with a better life.

“Sona (a play on Sona) ngayon ang mga ipinangakong trabaho?”, said Balladares. “Tayong mga migrante ang patunay na ang mga ipinangakong pagbabago ay hindi nangyari.”

She cited as an example the so-called iDOLE or OFW ID, which was recently scrapped by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III amid allegations of misuse of the congressional funding for the project.

She also harped at Duterte’s failure to have a real consultation with Filipino migrants during his Hong Kong visit in April, preferring instead to party with local Chinese business people who own employment agencies, often seen as a bane to OFWs.

A bigger protest is set to be held this coming Sunday, Jul 29, to assess Duterte’s SONA and what it means to Filipinos, particularly migrant workers.

Pinay to be tried on charge of wounding fellow maid with cooking pot

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina driver who had earlier pleaded guilty to wounding a fellow domestic helper in Kennedy Town in May with a cooking pot will be tried in Eastern Court in August after she decided to change her plea.

Magistrate Peter Law told the lawyer of Maria Fe Pangue, 52, to review new facts disclosed by the defendant in a statement, when the case was heard on Jul 18. After a brief adjournment, the lawyer told the court Pangue was reversing her plea and wanted to go to trial.

Pangue was charged with woundi

Defendant is charged with hitting a fellow domestic helper on the head with a cooking pot

ng for allegedly hitting fellow helper Jethelyn Sumagay on the head with a cooking pot more than once during a quarrel on May 22 on the podium of The Belchers residential estate in Sai Ying Pun, Kennedy Town.

But after the facts of her case were read in court, Pangue said, “I plead guilty, but I have a statement about my case, your honor.”

She passed the written statement on to the magistrate, who read it and noted the differences between her account of the incident and the facts cited in the police statement.

The police report said Pangue, who worked as a driver-helper of a family residing at a tower in the estate, “unlawfully wounded” Sumagay.

But Law noted that in her statement, the defendant claimed she was struck first on the face with the pot’s lid by the victim, prompting her to hit the latter’s head once, causing it to bleed.

Law set the trial for Aug 22 in Eastern Court.

Magsasangla ka pa ba ng pasaporte?

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Ito ang nais nating itanong sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga bagong-dating na kasambahay na natutuksong mangutang gamit ang kanilang mga pasaporte bilang garantiya sa uutangin.

Kapag nangutang kayo gamit ang mga inyong pasaporte bilang prenda ay huwag kayong umasang mabibigyan kayo kaagad ng Konsulado ng kapalit kapag naipit ang dokumento sa nagpautang o nakuha ito ng mga pulis bilang ebidensiya sa isang operasyon laban sa “loan-sharking” o sobrang pagpapatubo.

Nalaman namin sa isang opisyal ng Konsulado na kapag naipit o nawala ang pasaporte ng isang OFW dahil ginamit sa utang ay mahihirapan muna siya bago makakuha ng kapalit.

Sinabi ng opisyal na hihingi muna sila ng payo sa Department of Foreign Affairs sa Maynila kapag may mga lalapit na ganitong kaso para mag-renew ng pasaporte.

Kapag kailangang mag-renew ng kontrata ang nawalan ay papayuhan siyang sumulat sa Director of Passports ng DFA upang sa kanya mag-apply. Dito matatagalan ang proseso dahil susuriing mabuti ang aplikasyon. Kung bakit ganoon ang patakaran ng Konsulado ay dahil sa pang-aabuso ng maraming OFW sa kanilang pasaporte.

Ayon sa opisyal, layunin ng ganyang patakaran na matuto ang mga kababayan nating mahilig mangutang o hindi maingat sa kanilang mga gamit na kailangan din nilang igalang at ingatan ang pasaporte dahil ipinahiram lang iyon ng gobyerno sa kanila.

Paano nga naman matututo ng leksiyon ang mga kababayan natin madali silang makakakuha ng kapalit kapag ang nawala ang pasaporte ipinrenda nila sa mga nagpapautang?

Katunayan nga ay laging ipinapayo sa mga bagong-dating na OFW sa post-arrival orientation seminar o PAOS sa Konsulado na huwag nilang isangla o gamiting garantiya sa utang ang pasaporte.

Gayunpaman, nitong nakaraang buwan ay muling nabunyag na daan-daang mga kababayan nating kasambahay ang hindi nakinig sa payo at nangutang gamit ang kanilang mga pasaporte bilang garantiya.

Marahil ay wala naman silang balak na takbuhan ang kanilang mga utang. Sumabit lang sila nang mahuli ng pulisya ang taong inutangan nila. Sa kasunod na paghalughog sa tirahan ng nagpapautang, natagpuan ang mahigit 800 pasaporteng Pilipino at Indonesian na garantiya ng mga nangutang. Nakakuha rin ang pulisya ng mga kontrata sa trabaho.

Noong nakaraang taon, isang katulad na operasyon ang nabuwag ng mga pulis at nabawi rin nila ang 248 pasaporte ng mga Pilipino na inipit ng sindikatong binubuo ng mag-asawang Intsik ng Hong Kong. Kasama ang kanilang katulong na Pilipina at ilan pang mga Pinay ding kasambahay na nagsilbing “runner” ng taga-alok ng pautang.

Nalaman ng pulisya ang nasabing bawal na operasyon nang may mga nagsumbong na Pilipina dahil kailangan na nila ang mga pasaporte nila para mag-renew ng kontrata at visa ngunit hindi maibalik sa kanila ng nagpahiram ng pera dahil hindi pa umano bayad ang utang o wala sa kanila ang pasaporte ng nangutang.

Ang ginagawa pala ng mga sindikato o mga galamay nila – mga runner – ay tatanggapin nila ang pasaporte ng nangungutang kapalit ng halagang hinihiram ng tao.

Sa kagustuhan ng runner na kumita ay uutang naman siya gamit ang pasaporteng iyon bilang garantiya ngunit ang magbabayad sa inutang niya ay ang taong nakapangalan sa pasaporte. Kaya pala lumalaki nang 10 beses o higit pa ang utang ng may pasaporte.

Labag sa batas ang ganoong gawain dahil labis-labis sa hanggang 60% legal na patubo ang babayaran ng nangutang nagiging sanhi ng pagkakabaon niya sa utang.

Kapag nahuli ang mga “loan shark”, hahawakan ng pulisya ang mga pasaporteng nabawi bilang ebidensiya at walang nakakaalam kung maibabalik pa ito sa mga may-ari. Kaya nagkakaproblema ang mga nangutang pagdating ng renewal ng kanilang mga kontrata dahil wala silang pasaporteng tatatakan ng visa extension.

Sinabi ng opisyal ng Konsulado na noong una ay madali ang pag-iisyu nila ng kapalit sa mga nagre-report na nawalan ng pasaporte. Ngunit kainalaunan ay nabisto nilang marami sa mga nagsasabing nawalan ng pasaporte ay nagsangla o nangutang pala.

Paano sila matututong huwag gamitin sa utang ang pasaporte kung alam nilang madali silang makakakuha ng kapalit, sabi ng opisyal. May katuwiran nga siya. Igalang ang kundisyon ng pagkakaloob sa iyo ng pasaporte o magdusa ka.

Where to settle claims: job agency or Labour Department?

By Cynthia Tellez

A lot of times, our troubled migrant workers lack the right information on what to do and where to file their complaints when they are shortchanged by employers or agencies. This puts our OFWs in a vulnerable position and instead of a favourable resolution, they end up on the losing end because they thought they were given the proper advice.

There are migrant workers who report that their employer, after terminating their employment contract, did not give them what are due under the contract. The employer, instead of settling their obligations with their workers immediately, makes an appointment for them to see each other at the recruitment agency that facilitated the worker’s employment in Hong Kong.

Due to fear of receiving nothing if they refuse, migrant workers are forced to submit to the employer’s demand to settle claims in the office of the recruitment agency. In many cases, what happens next is that the agency just wants a way to get hold of whatever amount the employer will pay the worker.

The agency uses its “power” to pressure the worker to accept whatever is offered and from this, some amount may be deducted, including for the “completion of placement fee” plus many other things. In the end, almost nothing is left to the worker. She may even be forced to sign the receipt that makes it more difficult to file further claims against the employer at the Labour Relations Division of the Labour Department of Hong Kong.

First question: Do employers have the right to dictate where to settle their obligations to their  domestic worker? The answer is: NO.

Let us then explain the different functions of different entities related to the employer-domestic worker disputes in relation to contract. In this column, we will primarily discuss matters pertaining to employment contract violation that is within the jurisdiction of the Labour Department through its Labour Relations Division located in different districts of Hong Kong.

Technically any settlement between the employer and domestic worker is called amicable settlement which means that the dispute is settled between them and only by them. The involvement of recruitment agencies should be avoided by domestic workers. It is best to always settle disputes through the Labour Relations Division because only the Labour Department is mandated and tasked to attend to this kind of disputes.

There may be times that a Labour Officer also tells you to settle the matter at the recruitment agency. You have the right to refuse to do that.

Why should you avoid this? There are lessons to learn from the experiences of others who resorted to this move. Some domestic workers are threatened by employers by calling the police as if the worker has committed a crime. Some workers are threatened that they will not receive any amount in relation to their claims if they will not agree to settle through the recruitment agency. Some domestic workers succumb to pressures or may even be persuaded to agree, thinking that it is the easiest way to settle. Unfortunately, many experience undue deductions: “unpaid agency fees”, wages in lieu of notice and in some cases, even payment for plane ticket. They may turn out to be illegal deductions if thoroughly analyzed. But a confused and rattled migrant worker may not be in a position to do that.

They are overpowered by the presence of two authorities: employer and agency staff. “Unpaid agency fees” in many instances are overcharged fees if not illegal charges; wage in lieu of notice can be argued depending on the circumstances leading to the termination of employment contract; and air ticket is the responsibility of the employer for hiring a foreign worker. Once a domestic worker has agreed to any of these deductions, she will be forced to sign a paper stating that no further claims can be filed against the employer. It may even include the line “full and final settlement”. Thus, even if the full amount of the claims is not given, it will be difficult to file further claims, though not impossible. So, it is better to file the claims at the proper government agency that is the Labour Relations Division of the Hong Kong Labour Department and NOT the placement or recruitment agency.

The recruitment agency’s responsibility is mainly to process your work contract in Hong Kong. This includes, after ensuring the legitimacy of the employer, processing at the Philippine Consulate for authentication and verification, and then further on, to the facilitation of work visa application processing to the Immigration Department. Placement agencies based in the Philippines cannot charge any agency fee from an OFW applicant. This is based on the policy by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or POEA in December 2006. Meanwhile, the agency in Hong Kong can charge only 10% of the first month’s salary of the worker. This, and anything related to job placement, is the main role of the agency. Also, as a reminder, throm Page agency has no right to keep the domestic worker’s passport, employment contract, and other personal official documents issued to the domestic worker including the HK Identity card.   

In summary, migrant domestic workers must not allow themselves to be pressured or coerced by their employer to settle employment claims anywhere apart from the Labour Department. When they feel uncomfortable, they should seek assistance from service providers like the Mission for Migrant Workers, which can help clarify what actions they need to take.  It is better to be cautious than sorry.

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This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Suspended jail term for DH caught selling fake Nike shoes

Fake Nike being sold online

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina who sold fake Nike shoes on her day off to augment her income was sentenced on Jul 19 to six weeks in jail, suspended for a year, after she admitted her offenses.

Geraldine Hurboda, a 36-year-old domestic worker, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Peter Law in Eastern Court to charges of “possession for sale or any purpose of trade of goods to which a fake trademark was applied” and “breach of condition of stay”.

The prosecution said Hurboda was arrested on Dec 3 last year by a Customs officer posing as a civilian while selling eight pairs of fake Nike shoes to fellow Filipinos near St Joseph’s Church on Garden Road, Central.

The charge read to the defendant said the officer watched for a few minutes as Hurboda laid her merchandise on the pavement for likely buyers to inspect before arresting her.

The prosecutor said Hurboda, who came to Hong Kong on Jul 23, 2016 to work as a domestic helper for a family on Caine Road, Mid-Levels, had a clear record. She had lost her job since her arrest.

Her counsel from the Duty Lawyer Service said in mitigation that Hurboda had admitted her offenses at the earliest instance, adding that she committed them because she wanted to send more money to her ailing mother.

The lawyer read a letter from Hurboda which said she was remorseful and was hoping to get another job in Hong Kong. Her former employer also sent a letter attesting to her good character.

Law imposed a two-week sentence on Hurboda for selling fake goods and six weeks for breaching her condition of stay. Both sentences are to be served concurrently but suspended for 12 months.

“The nature of your breach of condition of stay is different from the nature of other breach of condition cases I’ve heard. Those cases involved people who are not allowed to work at all in Hong Kong. In your case, you were working in Hong Kong when you breached your condition of stay,” Law told Hurboda.

Five Pinays lose more than $300k in love-jobs scam

The victims had to pawn their passports
to borrow more money for John 

By Daisy CL Mandap

In just over two months, a group of Filipina domestic workers found themselves neck-deep in debt, all because of a charlatan who promised to get them work visas through a tech company he was supposedly setting up.

Banking on that promise, the five Filipinas racked up debts totaling a whopping $312,000, money they said all went to the Egyptian man they identified as John, but whose passport name they gave as Ghonam Aly Elsayed Aly Ibrahim.

But after reportedly demanding increasing amounts of money each month from the victims, saying he needed funds to set up the business and for him to live on, John suddenly cut off contacts with them by the end of last month.

By then, the Filipinas were already facing the fruit of their folly. Debt collectors from the various financing companies and individuals they borrowed money from, began calling them up to demand payment.

As a result, at least three of the alleged victims had their contracts terminated, and they would soon head home penniless and in tears, fearful of the adverse consequences of not being able to pay the huge amounts of money they had borrowed so recklessly.

All five filed statements at the Consulate on Jul 15, with at least one making a separate complaint at the Central Police station. Everyone was desperately seeking advice, wary of the notorious debt collectors that were closing in on them, and worried they could no longer work in Hong Kong.

The alleged scam unfolded on Feb. 18 this year, when Vivian - who was among those who complained - met John, a good-looking man who said he was from Alexandria, Egpyt, in a park in Hong Kong. 

John, who was on tourist visa, reportedly wanted to look for a job in Hong Kong, but he had no money. He allegedly said he could also set up his own IT company from home, but he must need at least a computer and an iPad.

Vivian responded to this by borrowing $30,000 from a financing company so John could buy whatever he needed for his business, and to pay the recruitment agency that would help him find a job.

Not long after, they became a couple.

But soon, John’s needs began to include his daily meals and accommodation, forcing Vivian to borrow heavily. In the end, she said her losses had run up to no less than $110,000.

Still, John reportedly kept asking for more that Vivian had to look for other people who could help put up the money for him.

That was when Mariz, whom Vivian met at the training centre they both attended in the Philippines prior to deployment, came into the picture.

Mariz, a single mother of three who had been working in Hong Kong for only 15 months, was easily lured by the promise of transitioning from maid to staff at an IT company that she readily took out a loan of $20,000 on Apr 15 to give to John.

At one point, she said Vivian even managed to get her to sign the loan agreement for an iPhone 8 that they bought for John in Worldwide Plaza.

Mariz ended up borrowing a total of $80,000 for him.

But so impressed was she of John’s vision, and also allegedly because of Vivian’s relentless nudging, that Mariz enticed a 24-year-old niece to also borrow money to help set up their dream company. This young newcomer ended up with debts totaling $63,000.

A friend who also quickly fell into the trap reportedly ended up indebted by $52,000; while a friend of this friend lost “a mere” $7,000 because she got into the picture much later than they did, and even managed to make Vivian pay $2,000 of her original $9,000 loan.

According to Mariz, they were told to borrow money nearly every week that on their days off they would look for all possible sources, even the loan sharks who demanded their passports and work contracts as collateral.

At one stage when she began entertaining doubts about the whole scheme, Mariz said she was told by Vivian that she already had a two-year work visa and had paid for a flat that she and John would move into. That reportedly erased whatever doubts she had in her mind.

Thus, when John had to leave for Macau at the end of his three-month visitor visa, Mariz said she even went there on her day off to deliver some of the borrowed money. She said John and Vivian gave her money for her boat fare, but the loaned amounts were delivered to them intact.

That was the first and only time she met the man who would soon leave

them all with a mountain of debts, and a shattered future.

3 Pinoys in US$5B bank draft case denied bail

By Vir B. Lumicao

The 3 Pinoys were denied bail in Eastern Court 

Three Filipino male tourists who are accused of presenting a fake US$5 billion bank draft to HSBC failed in their attempt to secure bail at Eastern Court on Jul 19.

In two separate cases, a male tourist who allegedly attempted to encash fake traveler’s checks worth US$50,000 in February and a fellow Filipino who tried to verify an HSBC deposit slip for US$943 billion in April appeared in District Court on Jul 17. 

In the first case, Elmer P. Soliman, 57, his son Eric Jude P. Soliman, 31, and Eliseo L. Martinez returned to the court with bail money and addresses to stay in Hong Kong in case they gain temporary release, as well as a promise not to leave the city and report to police daily.

But that did not convince Magistrate Peter Law to grant their bail applications.

The three defendants, who are facing a charge of “using a false instrument”, were ordered back in jail.

HSBC staff called police after seeing
the fake US$5billion bank draft

Soliman and his son, who claimed to be a secretary and engineer, respectively, submitted an address on Jordan Road near the Tsimshatsui Police Station. They also offered bail money of $15,000 each and their Hong Kong Chinese friend who was in court was ready to put up a surety of $3,000 each, their lawyer told Law.

Third defendant Martinez, a lawyer, offered bail of $15,000 in addition to an offer of $15,000 surety from his friend “Mr Pieter”,  a Hong Kong resident. His lawyer also offered a new address, also in Saikung, where Martinez would reside.

Despite the offers, however, Law remained firm in refusing the bail applications of all three.

The magistrate told the defendants that their offense was serious, so he could not grant their applications. But he said they could apply for bail at the High Court.

Law told Martinez he had considered his case separately, but rejected his bail application.   

Martinez, wearing a red round-neck shirt, smiled to his wife and daughter as he emerged in the dock along with the Solimans. The daughter wiped off her tears as she beheld her father, a 46-year-old municipal lawyer in Tarlac province.

For the Solimans, a son and grandson of Elmer came with two local Chinese friends and a Filipina companion.

  

Magistrate Law said the case could now go to a pre-trial review on Aug. 9.

The three defendants were arrested on Jun 25 at the HSBC main office in Central after they tried to open an account using the fake bank draft worth US$ 5 billion. Two other unidentified persons who were with them were initially arrested but were later released by the police.

The prosecution said the elder Soliman approached a female staff to open an account. He then presented the bank draft that was handed to him by Martinez. The staff called the police when they noticed that the bank instrument was spurious.

A raid on their hotel room in Tsimshatsui followed, and police seized a suitcase with contained documents. Investigations are continuing.

In the District Court, Filipino tourists Noel Rambuyon and Brudencio Bolaños appeared for the first hearing of their individual cases of “using a false instrument” since their transfer from Eastern Court in Sai Wan Ho.

No plea was taken from either of the defendants. Their lawyer from Legal Aid  applied for a six-week adjournment to study the cases.

Judge Gary Lam adjourned the cases until Sept 4 and ordered Rambuyon and Bolaños back in jail. 

UCCP bishops warn federalism will lead to a Duterte dictatorship

By Vir B. Lumicao

There is a “creeping tyranny” in the Philippines, as shown by the big number of people killed in the first two years of the administration’s war on drugs, a figure that now equals the number of those who died in 21 years of Marcos dictatorship, church leaders said.

Two bishops of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines who visited Hong Kong in June said the “Operation Tokhang,” President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and the extended martial law in Mindanao are manifestations of the drift to authoritarianism.

Bishop Melzar Labuntog and Bishop Joel E. Tendero.

Bishop Joel E. Tendero of the UCCP -South Luzon Jurisdiction and Bishop Melzar Labuntog, UCCP general secretary, said they believe the administration’s push for a federal system of government, if it succeeds, would seal a Duterte dictatorship.

Duterte formed the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council in 2016 to push for charter change that will allow a shift to a federal system. More recently, he formed a 22-member committee tasked with drafting a new constitution providing for a federal type of government, which is due to be submitted to him on Monday, Jul 16.

“In summary, there is a creeping dictatorship that started with ‘Operation Tokhang’ that began when President Rodrigo Duterte said in his inaugural speech on Jun 30, 2016 that he will end the drug problem in six months,” Tendero said.

The church leaders spoke in a solidarity forum, “Hear the Lament of the Prophets: A solidarity forum on church involvement in the struggle for justice, peace and human rights” that was held in KUC Space in Yaumatei on Jun 29.

They said many church leaders have become victim of human rights violations as government forces harass those who fight for justice, peace and people’s rights, although the number is still below that registered during the Arroyo administration, when UCCP alone lost 28 priests.

In an interview with The SUN a day after the forum, Tendero, citing statistics from various human rights groups and academic studies, said two years of “Oplan Tokhang” has killed about 12,000 mostly poor people suspected of being in the drugs trade.

He said the police estimate was only more than 3,000 killed in legal anti-drug operations.

The German  news broadcaster Deutsche Welle gave a much higher figure, citing the Philippine National Police’s Bantay Krimen website which shows 21,999 people died in drug-related killings in 2017, including those slain by vigilantes and drug syndicates.       

The creeping tyranny is more intense in Mindanao, where martial law is still in place despite the siege of Marawi ending in October last year. The bishops said Duterte used the attack by Islamist fighters as its justification for declaring martial law.

“Since the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, the number of government troops on the island increased to more than 50% of the 250,000-strong Philippine military,” Tendero said.

The clerics said that unlike the Marcos-era martial law where soldiers were not very visible, large troop concentrations are observed in Mindanao. 

Labuntog said martial law in Mindanao is more intense in the rural areas, where soldiers encamp in schools, health centers and multipurpose  barangay halls.

He said there was one school near a mining company site where soldiers where asked why they were there in big numbers, and they replied that they were there “to guard the teachers.”

“If the teachers go home on Friday, why don’t you go home as well?” the soldiers were asked and they replied, “Because we will meet with the villagers.”

Tendero and Labuntog said the soldiers, known as peace forces under the military’s “Operation Kalayaan,” were actually engaging the villagers to set up intelligence networks and win their hearts and minds.

The face of martial law implementation was the Marawi City incident, said Labuntog, who was a prelate in Mindanao at the time. He and Tendero said the pocket conflict was used by Duterte to justify martial law on the country’s second largest island.

Harassment of Church people is continuing in the rural areas, as the military brands those who fight for the rights of indigenous people like the lumads as communist sympathizers.

Three priests have been killed since December last year. The most recent victim was Fr Richmond Nilo, who was shot dead on Jun 10 while he was about to say evening mass in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.

His death followed the killing of Fr Mark Ventura, an anti-mining advocate who was slain in Cagayan while giving his blessing to children and the choir. In December last year, Fr Marcelito Paez, also of Nueva Ecija, was murdered.

Their deaths followed the killings of many church people from Iglesia Filipina Independiente/Philippine Independent Church, United Methodist Church and UCCP.

‘Sin’ taxes raise BIR collections

Thanks to the higher and new taxes slapped on the so-called sin products and sugary drinks under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act because the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) exceeded its target collections in the first half of 2018 by 13 percent.

BIR Commissioner Caesar B. Dulay said the agency collected P967.4 billion from January to June, up 13 percent from P853.6 billion in the first six months of last year.

The BIR also surpassed its end-June collection goal of P938.7 billion by 3 percent, Dulay added.

In June alone, the BIR’s tax collection rose 4 percent to P136.9 billion from P132.2 billion a year ago.

The actual collections last month were almost 1 percent more than the P135.7-billion target, Dulay said.

He attributed the strong six-month performance to a combination of improved tax administration and performance of revenue personnel as well as the higher levies under the TRAIN Law.

For this year, the BIR was tasked to collect P2.074 trillion, equivalent to 11 percent of gross domestic product.

Last year, the BIR’s collections grew 13 percent to P1.772 trillion from P1.567 trillion in 2016, although 1 percent below the P1.783-trillion goal.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the TRAIN law last December. It raised in January the excise taxes on cigarettes, sugary drinks, oil products and vehicles, among other goods, to compensate for the restructured personal income tax regime that raised the tax-exempt cap to an annual salary of P250,000.

The excise tax on sugar sweetened beverages, for instance, was a new levy, hence a fresh source of revenues, Dulay noted.

He said the new taxes on consumption compensated for the lower personal income tax rates under the TRAIN Law, which pulled down income tax collections so far this year, without disclosing by how much.

During the first half, the “big-ticket” sources of tax revenues were cigarettes and sugary drinks, Dulay said.

Under the TRAIN Law, the unitary excise tax slapped on cigarettes rose to P32.50 per pack effective Jan. 1 from P30 a pack last year.

Starting July, the cigarette excise tax further increased to P35 per pack, as mandated under the TRAIN Law.

Dulay said implementation of fuel marking by yearend as well as higher excise taxes on alcoholic drinks under the proposed tax package “2+” of the Department of Finance were expected to further shore up government revenue collections.

The taxes on petroleum and ‘sin’ products had consequently increased prices of basic consumer goods, thereby eroding the purchasing power of consumers.