Anti-Terrorism bill protests held in HK, Phl on Independence Day

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

UP protesters are shown to keep distance from each other (from Renato Reyes)

You’re not a terrorist just because you are protesting against the Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Bill that could soon become law once President Rodrigo Duterte signs it, or allows it to lapse without a veto for the next 60 days.

This was the impassioned message of Eman Villanueva, chairperson of Bayan Hong Kong and Macau, which was among those who organized an Independence Day protest against the bill outside the Consulate’s offices this morning, Jun 12.

Attendance to the gathering was limited to eight, in line with Hong Kong’s social distancing restrictions. But the four who spoke managed to convey clearly their message that the anti-terror bill must be junked at all cost.

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Over at the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City, law enforcers also tried to limit attendance to a two-hour morning protest to just 10 people, but their call went unheeded.

An estimated 5,000 people filled the entire stretch of University Avenue that leads to the campus, for the gathering that lasted from 10am to 12noon.

Despite the huge turnout and the heavy rain that fell at some point, participants could be seen to have done their best to maintain social distancing.

Officers sealed off the main entrance to the campus but made no arrest.

 

Stage actress Mae Paner dressed up as Police Gen Debold Sinas who inspired the 'mananita' cover

Organizers dubbed the protest as a “mananita,” in reference to the term used recently by Metro Manila’s police chief to gain exemption from social distancing rules for an early-morning birthday given him by about two dozen of his subordinates.

Renato Reyes of organizers Movement Against Tyranny said they were careful not to go beyond the 12 noon deadline they set for the protest. He also noted that the protesters dispersed peacefully.

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"Ang totoo ay 10 lamang ang inimbitahan namin pero napakarami pala ang gustong dumalo. Di naman siguro kayo pwedeng pauwiin pa ano? Mapayapa naman ang pagtitipon natin at walang nilalabag na batas..,” Reyes said in a statement.

(In truth, we invited only 10 people, but we didn’t realize that there were so many who wanted to attend. It would not have been good to send them home, right? Our gathering was peaceful and in conformity with the law, anyway).

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He noted that the police had urged them to just do an online petition, but he said that having already done that for the past three months, they knew it was ineffective as the government was not listening.

A case in point, he said, was the anti-terror bill which the government still pushed through, despite widespread opposition to it.

 

HK protesters called for 'Duterte's Terror Law' to be opposed and junked

Back in Hong Kong, Villanueva said in his speech that it was ridiculous to suggest that all those who oppose the anti-terror bill are communists, or communist supporters.

“Siguro yung mga abugado na tutol sa ‘terror bill’ ay komunista din o supporter ng mga komunista, ano? Siguro yung mga kongresista katulad ni Brother Eddie Villanueva ng Jesus is Lord ay  komunista din o supporter?,” Villanueva said.

(Maybe we should also call lawyers who oppose the terror bill communists or communist supporters, right? Maybe the congressmen like Brother Eddie Villanueva of Jesus is Lord church is also a communist or supporter?)

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Terrorism should not be equated with activism, he said, and called for the name-tagging to be thrown back at those who denounce protesters.

“Kung wala kayong ginagawa, bakit takot kayo sa protesta…sa kritisismo? Kung wala kayong ginagawang kademonyohan, bakit takot kayo sa mga mamamayan?,” Villanueva asked.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

(If you're not doing anything wrong, why are you scared of protests, of criticism? If you are not doing anything diabolical, why are you scared of the citizenry?)

The protesters chanted slogans that called for the bill to be junked, to fight tyranny, end impunity, and restore the country’s independence.

 

Petition letters signed by more than 100 groups and individuals were submitted to a Consulate representative

In a statement, Villanueva’s group warned that the bill could be used to stifle legitimate dissent, such as the recent protests by around half a million overseas Filipino workers against a law that made it mandatory for them to pay jacked-up premiums for PhilHealth.

The protesters also pointed out various provisions in the bill that contravene the Philippine Constitution, such as the curtailment of the right to speak, organize and to due process.

In particular, they noted that under the proposed measure, anyone can be arrested on mere suspicion of being a terrorist, and held without any charges being filed against them for up to 24 days.

Moreover, a body appointed by the president is given the power to issue arrest orders, which under the Constitution is exclusively reserved for the judiciary.

The protest ended with a unity statement signed by various Filipino community groups, as well as a solidarity statement from various non-Filipino groups, being handed over to a representative of the Consulate, which was closed for the national holiday.

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More details emerge in fake jobs scam involving Pinoys and Indons

By Vir B. Lumicao

FDHs are warned that it is illegal to use fake documents, lie to Immigration, and do non-domestic work

Sometime in February 2015, Filipina domestic worker Rose Alarcio went to JS Employment Agency in Yuen Long looking for an employer.

A friend had referred her to a certain “Susan”, described in court later as a director of the agency.

Susan offered to arrange a false domestic helper contract for Alarcio in exchange for a $30,000 fee. Susan told the Filipina she was not required to work for her contractual employer once her visa application was approved.

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Alarcio accepted the offer and after a few days, she returned to the agency where she paid $15,000 to Susan. She signed on a blank visa application form and on a contract given by Susan. She also gave her passport and some photos to Susan for processing.

Later that month, Alarcio, 48, was told by Susan that her visa was ready for collection. The maid returned to the agency and paid another $15,000 to Susan, who coached her to tell, if anyone asked, that she was working for her contractual employer.

Accompanied by an agency staff, the helper went to the Immigration Department and collected her approved domestic helper visa. But she never worked for her contractual employer, Cheung Tsz-kin, at 31A Tong To Shan, Sha Tau Kok, New Territories.

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On Aug 19, 2015, Alarcio presented her passport for arrival clearance bearing the employment visa as domestic helper for Cheung. She was allowed to remain in Hong Kong by virtue of that visa until Feb 26, 2017.

Two years earlier, or in July 2013, Indonesian helper Rohaela, 43, was introduced by her relative to Susan because she got fired and was looking for an employer. Her visa application was filed on Jul 25, 2013.

Rohaela obtained her domestic helper visa through Susan’s false employment contract scheme on Aug 21, 2013, with Tang Wah-fai of 2/F, 91 Oak St, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon signing as her contractual employer.

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On Aug 25, 2013, the maid arrived in Hong Kong to work for Tang and was allowed to remain until Aug 25, 2015.  She entered the city one more time on Jan 25, 2014 and was permitted to remain here to work for Tang until Aug 25, 2015.

Another Indonesian maid, Dwijayanti Ayun, 31, got her domestic helper visa through the same scheme offered by Susan at a cost of $40,000.

Her visa application to work for Sin Chi-fai at 24, G/F, Ha Kwai Chung Village, Kwai Chung, was received by the Immigration Department in January 2016 and was approved on Feb 25, 2016.

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She presented her passport with the visa for clearance after arriving from Macau on Feb 29, 2016 and was allowed to remain until Feb 28, 2018.

In March 2018, Immigration investigators launched “Operation Shadowcatcher” after suspecting that a number of Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers had obtained work visas by submitting false employment contracts supported by forged bank statements, telecommunications service bills and water bills.

Ayun was among the first to be arrested in connection with the fake employment contract scam. She was invited by Immigration officers on Mar 28, 2018 after she was suspected of using a false employment contract to obtain a visa.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

Her contractual employer, Sin, denied he lived in the address in Kwai Chung Village. He said he never employed a maid and never signed any work contract and visa forms.

While the case was under investigation, Ayun married her boyfriend, a Hong Kong permanent resident, and obtained a dependant visa.

Roahela was arrested on Apr 8, when Immigration agents found her dwelling place. She was investigated at the Immigration Department where she revealed the bogus employment contract scheme by Susan.

The officers also investigated Tang, who denied he ever lived in the Tai Kok Tsui address, or employed any domestic helper. He also said he never signed an employment contract or visa form for a helper and had no knowledge of the supporting documents.  

Alarcio was arrested at her address on Apr 24, 2018 and investigated further at Immigration, where she told the same story about Susan.

Acting on the information they provided the investigators, the authorities pounced on the suspected mastermind of the bogus jobs scam, who was only listed on the court list as S.W.C. during the District Court trial of the case in May.

Ayun, Rohaela and Alarcio gave evidence as prosecution witnesses during the trial.

In separate hearings of their conspiracy to defraud cases in Shatin Court, they pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced on Jun 10 to three months in jail, a discount of 50%, for helping in the investigation and prosecution of the scam’s mastermind.

On May 29, Susan or S.W.C., was convicted of three counts of conspiracy to defraud and five counts of using false instruments, and was sentenced to 43 months’ imprisonment.

More than 30 people have been arrested over the visa scam

Another 17 Indonesian and Filipino domestic helpers involved in the case had been convicted in Shatin Court earlier for offences of conspiracy to defraud, making false representation to an immigration officer and breach of condition of stay.

They were sentenced to up to eight months in jail, according to an Immigration press release.

More than 30 people have reportedly been arrested in the jobs scam, and the investigation is continuing.

Immigration warns that making, possessing or using false instruments is an offence, for which those found liable could be jailed for up to 14 years. The same penalty applies to those involved in a conspiracy to defraud.

Likewise, a foreign domestic helper who does illegal work could be prosecuted, and upon conviction, sentenced to a maximum fine of $50,000 and two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors could likewise be held liable.

The offence of making false representation to an immigration officer is more serious, as the maximum penalty is 14 years in jail and a fine of $150,000.

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Anti-Terrorism Bill protesters limited to 8 in HK

By Daisy CL Mandap

A protest against the Anti-Terrorism Bill on Sunday, Jun 7

Militant groups in Hong Kong are set to mark the anniversary of Philippine Independence Day tomorrow, Jun 12, by holding a protest against the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 which is just awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte before it becomes law.

The protest, to be held in the lobby of the Consulate offices in United Centre, will coincide with a mass gathering at the University of the Philippines campus in Quezon City by opposition groups in the Philippines.

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But given the gathering restrictions that remain in force in Hong Kong, tomorrow’s protest will only have eight participants, the maximum allowed under the law.

According to Eman Villanueva of Bayan Hong Kong and Macau, one of the organizers, the police rejected their appeal to have several groups of eight people taking part, each separated from the other by a distance of at least 1.5 meters.

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“Maingat sila kasi ang June 12 ay anniversary din ng malaking protest kung kailan nilusob ang Legco (Legislative Council),” said Villanueva.

(They are very cautious because June 12 is also the anniversary of the big protest during which Legco was invaded).

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The move comes as three organizers of the big but peaceful vigil in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay on Jun 4 to commemorate the Tienanmen Square crackdown, were reportedly issued summons today for alleged violation of the social distancing rule.

However, police did not stop up to 1,000 people from joining the vigil which lasted for no more than two hours.

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But in other anti-government and anti-China protests before and after this event, police made hundreds of arrests.

Villanueva said his group will abide by what the police say because being migrant workers, they may incur not only fines, but also loss of jobs if they did not comply.

 

Several small groups joined a noise barrage against the Terror Bill and government exactions

Last Sunday, however, several small groups were not stopped from gathering in a big circle on Chater Road to protest against the Anti-Terrorism Bill and government-sanctioned fees imposed on Filipino migrants.

Ahead of the protest, several individuals and groups in Hong Kong have signed a petition calling on President Duterte to veto the Anti-Terrorism Bill which they say “poses grave dangers to freedoms and rights Filipinos have fought for.”

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

The bill is said to violate the Constitutional right of Filipinos to free speech and due process as it  can be used to silence criticisms, clamp down on the press, crack down on legitimate people’s organizations and stop collective and organized actions of Filipinos in the country and overseas.

Among the controversial provisions of the bill is the one that gives an Anti-Terror Council, the members of which are selected by the president, the right to order the arrest of people tagged as suspected terrorists.

Those suspects may be held for up to 24 days without charges being filed against them. If they do get charged eventually, they face life sentences without the chance of parole if found guilty.

Under the Philippine Constitution, a person may be held without a charge for only up to 24 hours, or if the offense is serious, no longer than 36  hours. 

In the Philippines where social distancing rules are also being strictly enforced, tomorrow’s protest is being labeled as a “mananita”, in reference to the excuse for the large gathering held recently to celebrate the birthday of a police general.

Duterte exonerated General Debold Sinas of any wrongdoing, saying the mananita was a surprise gathering arranged by his friends, and it would have been uncouth of him to turn them away.

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Public may collect their CuMask+™ starting Jun 15

The Innovation and Technology Bureau announced today (June 11) that holders of a valid Hong Kong identity card (HKID) who have not obtained the CuMask+™ through online registration may collect masks in person at post offices around the territory from June 15 to July 15. Residents of public housing estates under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and rental estates under the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS) may collect the masks from their respective estate management offices.

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Procedures for obtaining CuMask+™

Citizens should present to the staff of post offices or estate management offices the original of their own HKID (copies will not be accepted). The staff will input the citizen's HKID number on a computer or a handheld device immediately and provide an adult sized CuMask+™ once it is confirmed that the citizen has not obtained one before. The computers and handheld devices used by the post offices or estate management offices will not store any HKID information or other personal data.

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Those who are unable to collect the mask in person may authorise others to collect it on their behalf at post offices or estate management offices from July 6 to 15. Detailed arrangements will be announced in early July. Estate management offices under the HA and the HS will distribute the masks to residents with special needs (such as elderly people or persons with impaired mobility) by means of appointment.

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 Collection points 

(1) Post Offices: Citizens can visit any of the 121 post offices (except mobile post offices) during the respective office hours to obtain the CuMask+™. Taking into account the sizes of individual post offices as well as the availability of other collection points in the area, the number of masks available for collection at each post office each day will vary. Members of the public can check the quantity of masks available at each post office each day via the following website: www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/network/cuMaskOffices/index.html.

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(2) Public Rental Housing Estate Management Offices under HA: Residents of the 185 public rental housing estates under the HA can visit their respective estate management offices to obtain the CuMask+™ during the time slots listed below (excluding estate management offices in Tenants Purchase Scheme estates and Buy or Rent Option courts):

     June 15 to 19 (Monday to Friday): 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm

     June 22 to July 15 (Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays): 2pm to 5pm

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

(3) Rental Estate Management Offices under HS: Residents of the 20 rental estates under the HS can visit their respective estate management offices to obtain the CuMask+™ during the time slots listed below:

     Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays): 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm

     Office hours of Sha Tau Kok Chuen estate management office: Mondays to Fridays, 8.45am to 12.45pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Office hours of Tui Min Hoi Chuen estate management office: Mondays and Thursdays, 8.30am to 12.30pm; Tuesdays, 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm

     For detailed information about the CuMask+™ or other enquiries, including addresses of public rental housing estate management offices under the HA and rental estate management offices under the HS, please visit the CuMask+™ website (qmask.gov.hk). Members of the public may also call the hotline at 3142 2313 or check via the WhatsApp Helpline 9617 1823.

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Returning OFWs told to sign up with Dole ‘tracking’ system for quick help

By The SUN

The Dole-run system is means to track returning OFWs from the airport until they reach their homes

Overseas Filipino workers who are planning to return to the Philippines during the pandemic are being advised to register with an online system that the Department of Labor and Employment says will help ensure they are helped as soon as they get there.

The so-called OFW Assistance Information System (Oasis) was activated by Dole today, Jun 11, and is said “to facilitate an orderly and smooth repatriation and assistance” to the thousands of Filipinos who fly home each day.

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In a press statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the repatriation tracker will make the government more responsive and prepared for the arrival of OFWs.

“An oasis symbolizes hope in a desert of trials. The system that we created aims to give our OFWs a ray of hope by ensuring that we provide them efficient and timely assistance to ease their anxieties when returning home in the midst of this pandemic,” he said.

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The move comes as 42,000 OFWs are expected to return home within the month. Last month, 24,000 OFWs were transported to their home provinces after being stuck in quarantine centers for up to two months despite testing negative for Covid-19.

Government officials say no more than 1,500 OFWs will be allowed to fly in each day to ensure that the quarantine facilities in Metro Manila will no longer be overwhelmed.

 

All returnees must undergo swab tests for Covid-19 on arrival in the Philippines

They are also promising a wait of no more than three days for the swab test results. If the OFW tests negative, he or she will be allowed to go home, but will be subject to whatever quarantine regulations will be imposed by the officials of their local government units.

To register with Oasis, a returning OFW must log in to oasis.owwa.gov.ph, then fill up a form with their personal data, their date and time of arrival, flight number, as well as their health condition.

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The system, run by the Dole command center, will enable the government to determine and immediately provide the kind of support needed by OFWs displaced by the pandemic.

This will include ensuring their organized arrival at the airport, faster swab testing and transport to their quarantine facilities.

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But as soon as they land in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the OFWs may also seek help at the One-Stop Shop in terminals 1 and 2, which is run jointly by various government departments, to know where they should go for their mandatory quarantine.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love.

According to a statement from the Department of Transportation, the One-Stop shops have served a total of 31,673 since they stated operating on Apr 23.

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