Madaling malinlang ang kumakalam ang tiyan

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Madaling mapaniwala ang dalawang uri ng tao: ang masiba at ang kumakalam ang tiyan. Ito ay aral na pamantayan na hango sa pagsusuri sa personalidad ng isang tao batay sa kanyang ikinikilos.

Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit ang mga manlilinlang ay nakakapanloko ng marami at, sa kasamaang-palad, marami sa mga nalilinlang nila – at sa mga nambibiktima sa kanila – ay mga kababayan din nila.

Kasakiman at ang pangarap na makaalpas sa kahirapan ang dalawang magkataliwas na elemento na palaging napapaloob sa mga kaso ng panlilinlang ng mga illegal recruiter sa kanilang mga biktimang naghahangad magtrabaho sa ibang bansa.

Hindi pa natatagalan nang daan-daang mga OFW rito sa Hong Kong ang nabiktima ng dating pinakamalaking ahensiya ng empleo ng mga kasambahay na Pilipino rito.

 Ayon sa mga humigit-kumulang sa 500 kataong nabiktima ng Emry’s Staff Services and Employment Agency at Mike’s Secretarial Services noong 2016, nagbayad sila ng $10,000 para sa alok na trabaho sa Britain at $15,000 para makapagtrabaho sa Canada.



Marami sa mga nalinlang ang ayaw maniwala nang binabalaan sila na kaduda-duda ang mga alok na trabaho sa Britain at Canada dahil naningil kaagad ng bayad ang ahensiya kahit walang maipakitang mga job order. Bukod pa rito, alam ng lahat na hindi ganoon kadali para sa isang Pilipino ang makakuha ng trabaho sa dalawang bansang ito.

Umiyak ang marami sa mga nabiktima nang lumipas ang mga buwan at hindi natupad ang mga trabahong ipinangako sa kanila.



Tinanong namin ang ilan sa kanila at pare-pareho ang isinagot: dahil daw sa kagustuhan nilang kumita ng malaki upang matupad ang kanilang mga pangarap na hanguin ang kani-kanilang mga pamilya sa kahirapan.

Ganoon din ang sagot ng mga nahikayat ng mga illegal recruiter papunta sa Russia, Turkey at sa ilang pang mga bansang walang kasunduan sa Pilipinas para kumuha ng mga kasambahay at iba pang mga trabahador na Pinoy doon.



Nitong nakaraang dalawang taon, ibang uri naman ng panlilinlang na kinasasangkutan din ng mga Pilipino ang nabunyag dito rin sa Hong Kong. Ito ay ang mga nabigong pagtatangkang magpapalit sa mga bangko rito ng mga huwad na tseke at iba pang mga papel de bangko na nagtataglay ng napakalalaking halaga.

Batay sa dalawang kasong napagpasiyahan na ng mga korte kamakailan, napaniwala ang mga may dala ng mga huwad na tseke at papel de bangko na ang mga dokumentong iyon ay bahagi ng limpak-limpak na kayamanan ni dating diktador Ferdinand Marcos na nakatago diumano sa mga bangko sa Hong Kong.



Sa dalawang kasong iyon, parehong tinanong ng magkaibang huwes ang mga akusado kung bakit hindi sila nagtaka na ipinagkatiwala sa kanila ang ganoong kalalaking halaga ng pera kahit hindi sila lubos na kilala ng mga nag-utos sa kanila.

Kahit iginiit ng isang akusado na dinala niya sa bangko ang tseke dahil nais lang niyang tumulong sa isang kaibigang nakiusap sa kanya kahit walang inaasahang kabayaran, ipinahiwatig ng huwes na ang talagang nag-udyok sa kanya ay ang magiging bayad niya..

Sa dalawang kasong iyon, malamang na nasilaw ang mga akusado sa laki ng halagang taglay ng mga tsekeng dala nila. Hindi nila naisip na ang mga ganoong kalaking transaksiyon ay hindi isinasagawa sa bank counter dahil may limitasyon ang halaga na puwedeng tanggapin ng mga teller.

Totoo man o hindi ang “Marcos connection” sa mga kasong iyon, malinaw na ang nag-udyok sa mga akusado ay kasakiman. Tulad nila, kasakiman din ang nag-udyok sa sinumang nag-utos sa kanila na ipalit o ideposito ang mga pekeng tsekeng iyon sa pagbabaka-sakaling magtatagumpay sila.

Maraming mga katulad na kaso ang naghihintay pa ng kapasyahan ng husgado. Kamakailan lang ay may bagong-dating na Pinoy sa Hong Kong na nahuli sa isa pa diumanong pagtatangkang ipalit ang isang bagong uri naman ng papel de bangko.

Higit na malaki ang halaga ng transaksiyon, lalong hindi kapani-paniwala. Ngunit patuloy ang pagsulpot dito ng mga ganyang kasong dala ng mga Pinoy dahil siguro sa walang pagkabusog na kasakiman at patuloy na pagkalam ng tiyan ng mga mamamayan.

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Pinay accused of stealing blouse acquitted by West Kowloon judge

A prosecution witness cannot establish the intent of a theft suspect even if close-circuit television footage shows the defendant has taken merchandise and failed to pay for it before leaving a shop.

West Kowloon courthouse.

Thus said a West Kowloon magistrate as he acquitted on Friday, Nov 15, as Filipina domestic helper who was accused of stealing a blouse from a clothing chain outlet in Kowloon in May.

The defendant, Anita S. Villanueva, 57, was blushing with joy and relief after Magistrate Alan Ng Hoi-lun exonerated her because the prosecution could not prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Ng said Villanueva, 57, has a clear record and was trusted by her employer. Nevertheless, he said the prosecution witness was honest and reliable.

According to the summary of the case read by Ng, the domestic helper and her elderly female employer for eight years, Madame Leng, entered the two-storey 6ixty8ight fashion shop on the second floor of a mall in Prince Edward, Mong Kok, and took the escalator to the first-floor level.

The magistrate, citing evidence given by the first prosecution witness -- a shop attendant--and CCTV footage played back by the prosecution, said Villanueva and her employer went around the shelves checking out the merchandise.

Before they ascended the escalator back to the upper level, Villanueva took a black and white checkered blouse from a shelf and put it in her recyclable shopping bag because she had to support the old woman on the way up.

When they reached the upper level, the employer tugged at the helper’s right arm gesturing her to hurry up and headed for the exit. Confused, the maid forgot about going to the cashier to pay for the clothing.

The shop attendant followed and stopped the maid after the two left the shop. She told Villanueva she had not paid for the clothing in her bag and called the police. The maid was arrested and charged with theft. She was released on police bail.

The Filipina insisted from that moment on that she did not intend to steal the item and was, in fact, set to pay for it at the upper-level cashier when her employer tugged at her.

Villanueva was represented by private lawyers hired by her employer. Throughout the episode, the employer supported Villanueva and kept her on the job.

The prosecution said the CCTV footage showed that, after taking the item, the helper and her employer were leaving the store in haste.

But the defense lawyer said the footage was an inconclusive proof that the defendant intended to steal the blouse, and the magistrate agreed with her.

Ng said neither the CCTV footage nor the store attendant could prove intent or tell what was going on in the mind of the defendant at the time. So, he acquitted Villanueva. 

On her way out of the courthouse with her lawyers, a joyful Villanueva said she loves her employers very much because they had staunchly supported her since the case began, even hiring private lawyers to defend her.

She said she would continue to serve them. 

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OFWs stranded by Xiamen plane skid have until Nov 29 to claim payout

Tens of thousands of passengers stranded at NAIA after a Xiamen plane overshot the runway on Aug 16

By The SUN

PCG Advisory 

The Consulate has set Nov. 29 as the deadline for claiming compensation by overseas Filipino workers left stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Aug 16-18 after a Xiamen Air jet skidded off the runway.

A notice posted on the Consulate’s Facebook page listed the requirements for making the application, such as a photocopy of their passport, original air ticket, rebooking proof, immigration stamp showing date of departure from the Philippines, and boarding pass.

 

Reports from Manila said the compensation, paid for by the Department of Foreign Affairs, was set at Php5,000 (HK$715) per affected OFW passenger.

Thousands of passengers, mostly OFWs, were affected by delayed or cancelled flights at NAIA after the runway was closed for nearly two days due to the accident.

About a thousand OFWs had reportedly claimed the financial help before flying out of NAIA but most did not bother applying for it as they were focused on just getting the first available flight out.

Those who failed to get the payout in Manila were advised to apply for it at any Philippine embassy or consulate abroad.

In Hong Kong, Consul Paul Saret said at a Filipino community meeting held on Nov 11 that 206 out of 326 claimants have already received payment.

He said he was still inquiring with the DFA’s Office of Migrant Workers Affairs if those who were unable to take their flights from Hong Kong to the Philippines are also entitled to compensation.

“The guidelines are not clear if the compensation applies both ways,” he said.

Aside from extending financial aid, the DFA had instructed all its overseas posts to help explain to employers, through certifications or direct contact, why their Filipino employees were delayed in returning to work.

Xiamen Air was fined a total of Php33 million for causing havoc at NAIA because of the incident which was traced to pilot error. 

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Consulate warns OFWs vs. investment scams

By The SUN

Filipino workers in Hong Kong are being warned by the Consulate against falling prey to scammers who offer investment plans.

“Beware of financial fraud and investment scams in Hong Kong,” the Consulate says in a public advisory dated Nov 13 that is posted in strategic areas of the Consulate at United Centre in Admiralty, and on its website.

The warning was welcomed by Hong Kong-based workers, who also gave their own advice against heeding glib-tongued people who approach them with investment plans promising high and quick returns.

Ironically, at least three sales networking operators joined the online discussions to plug their own businesses.

The Consulate urged the Filipino community in Hong Kong to be vigilant and cautious in dealing with any person or company that approaches them with investment offers.

“Do not deal with any financial company that is not licensed by the Philippine authorities to avoid (becoming) a victim of scams,” the advisory said.

The Consulate said any information about investment scams and related activities in Hong Kong should be reported to the hongkong.pcg@dfa.gov.ph or at telephone number +852 9155 4023.

But when contacted for any recent reports of such scamming cases, a female staff at the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section said the warning was not based on any new case.

“The Consulate has been issuing warnings against financial scams regularly and the workers are warned about the problem in their pre-departure seminars by still some of them fall victims to such schemes,” she said.

Commenters added their input to the advisory.

 

“Puwede umattend ng mga financial literacy (seminars) kung paano mag-invest pero avoid na lang na magbigay ng pera,” said one Magdalena Celoso.

She suggested OFWs should just put up their own businesses even if they have only a little capital, which they could save up for within five years.

Other commenters warned that some offers are too good to be true. Still, others advised their fellow workers not to fall for promises of instant wealth but rely on hard work.

“Iiingat ingat lang, mga kabayan. Huwag magpadala sa magandang salita. Siguraduhing ang pinaghirapan ay di mapunta sa wala. Walang masama ang sumali sa mga networking business. Pero maging alerto. May tunay at may peke. Hindi po tayo maging milyunaryo sa isang kisapmata lang,” Raiche Albaceno Ozalda

Commenter Marycone Castres said it is best to invest in property like farm lands, or vehicles for public transport. But one must be patient in saving up for this. 

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HK OFW claims losing P300k to ‘friendly’ thief at Manila airport

Martin (with back turned) hits suspect Zamora (with hood) after the latter's arrest

By The SUN

Martin

A Hong Kong-based domestic helper who flew home for a vacation has reportedly lost more than P300,000 in cash and personal belongings to a thief who befriended her inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

The victim, Germelie Martin, immediately reported the theft to police at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 and identified the thief through a rogues’ gallery.

Zamora

A follow-up operation by the police led to the arrest of the suspect, a certain Kay Juvy Macalalad Zamora of San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, investigators said.

Zamora allegedly sweet-talked Martin into withdrawing money from a nearby ATM, then handing over her bag containing Php270,000 and HK$10,000 cash, jewelry, passport, and cell phone. The suspect then slipped away with the bag.

The recovered loot

The officers who arrested Zamora reportedly recovered some of the stolen items and cash amounting to Php65,000.

The alleged theft not only ruined Martin’s vacation, it also deprived her of the chance to redeem a property that her family had mortgaged to secure a loan.

“Pinaghirapan ko po ang pera bilang isang DH pero ninakaw lang po nang walang kapagud-pagod,” media reports from Manila quoted her as saying.

Martin said in a complaint filed with the Airport Police that Zamora approached and engaged her in a friendly chat as she was waiting in the departure area for her connecting flight to Tuguegarao City.

ABS-CBN News reported that airport officials found out Zamora was also involved in other incidents that victimized returning OFWs.

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