Filipina DH held in connection with $320K scam

By Vir B. Lumicao

The helper has said she was taken to this HSBC branch to open an ATM-linked account

Police say they have arrested a Filipina domestic helper for her suspected involvement in a deception case in which a 47-year-old woman lost close to $320,000 in March.

The suspect, aged 45, was detained on Thursday in Kwun Tong for “obtaining property by deception”, but was released after one day of questioning on the same $500 bail imposed on her during an earlier investigation. 

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According to the spokesperson, police received a report from the alleged victim on Mar 10 that she had been conned of $317,737. No other details were given by the police. However, a police source said the case was “sort of a romance scam”.

This indicates that the alleged victim was wooed by an unknown person who then used the helper’s ATM bank account as repository for the illegally obtained money.

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The detained helper had initially sought help from the police and the Consulate in early February, claiming to have lost her ATM card in a part-time job scam.

She claimed then that she was hooked into the ploy by someone who posted an offer for parttime jobs on Facebook. 

When she responded, another Filipina helper who met up with her took her to an HSBC branch in Tuen Mun to open  an ATM linked account for her, then took the card away.

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Her ATM card was then used to funnel money earned from illegal means, which now appears, included the $320,000 taken from the unnamed victim in the most recent case.

The accused helper was arrested on April 22 and dismissed by her employer the next day. After being allowed to post police bail, she said she was being investigated in connection with a deception case.

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An investigation into the alleged scam began late last year, when about 10 Filipinas were arrested by police looking into the use of their bank accounts in laundering money earned through illicit means, including the so-called love scam.

Some of those arrested told police their ATM cards were taken from them by another Filipina domestic worker they named as Gemmalyn Reyes.

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The rise in deception cases involving Filipina helpers prompted the HK Police Anti-Deception Coordinating Centre and the Consulate to jointly hold a webinar to warn the community about various scams that have deprived victims of millions of dollars.

One of the most common is the “romance scam” in which a foreign man meets a local woman on a dating site, courts her and, after gaining her friendship, sends her a purportedly expensive parcel. People posing as freight company staff then call up the woman and tell her she has a package waiting to be delivered but she has to pay a huge sum for customs duties and transport fee.

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They then advise the victim to deposit the money in a bank account that turns out to be owned by a foreign domestic helper who herself was duped by the same conmen into lending or surrendering to them her ATM card for their criminal deeds.

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Indonesian DH dies, Filipina back in critical condition after vaccination

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Gemalyn Gabon is back in intensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital

A 31-year-old Filipina domestic helper is in critical condition again at Princess Margaret Hospital, a week after being rushed there when she started having convulsions shortly after taking her second dose of the BioNTech vaccine.

The news comes as the Department of Health reported the death of a 44-year-old Indonesian domestic helper today, May 21, nine days after she received her second BioNTech jab.

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In both cases, the DH has initially ruled out vaccination as the cause.

A staff at the Hospital Authority said Filipina Gemalyn L. Gabon was moved back to intensive care yesterday when her condition deteriorated.

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Welfare Officer Virsie Tamayao of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration confirmed the report, saying Gabon’s employer had informed her that the worker suffered another seizure attack after being moved to a regular ward.

The Filipina had collapsed at the Lai Chi Kok Park CVC on May 13 within minutes of getting her second jab. A video taken of the incident showed her shaking on a hospital bed as she was wheeled away to an ambulance.

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The single mother’s condition was initially listed as critical, but this was downgraded to serious three days later when she managed to speak to relatives, both face-to-face and online.

Medical inquiries revealed she had a recent history of hypertension and epileptic-like seizures when she was young.

The Indonesian helper was declared dead at Kwong Wah Hospital

In the case of the Indonesian helper, the DH said in a statement that was “no clinical evidence” to show that the woman’s death was caused by her having received the vaccine.

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The statement said the patient did not report feeling unwell after receiving her second jab at a community vaccination centre on May 5.

But the DH said it will contact the Hospital Authority for more information, and pass the case on to the Expert Committee which will further assess the cause of death.

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The Coroner will also look into the case.

According to media reports the Indonesian DH fell unconscious in a flat at the Cascades Block 2 in Ho Man Tin. She was rushed to Kwong Wah Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

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The woman reportedly felt unwell yesterday, but it is not known whether she had a pre-existing medical condition.

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HK-bound Filipino workers stuck in Manila as no end in sight to flight ban

By Vir B. Lumicao 

Many Filipino workers bound for overseas have been stranded since late last year

While more than 400 Filipinos are stranded in Hong Kong since early this year due mainly to Philippine Airlines’ frequent flight cancellations, possibly a larger number of workers are in desperate situations in Manila waiting to fly here.

The Hong Kong-bound workers, some waiting for a flight as early as half a year ago after being hit by intermittent lockdowns in the Philippine capital, say it’s not just them who are suffering. Also hit by the backlash are the families they left behind in the provinces.

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Their dire situation got worse when Hong Kong imposed a ban on all flights coming from the Philippines starting on Apr 20, citing the worsening coronavirus situation in the country.

Banned alongside the Philippines were India and Pakistan, which were all categorized as “extremely high-risk” places due to the surge in the number of their Covid-19 infections.

Originally meant to last for only two weeks, the flight ban has now been extended indefinitely, as Hong Kong tries to ward off the spread of the more infectious coronavirus variants found in the designated countries which of late, also included Nepal.

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According to Consul Paulo Saret, the Consulate was told this by Hong Kong Labour Secretary Law Chi-kwong during a recent meeting held to discuss the SAR’s mandatory Covid-19 testing for foreign domestic workers and a planned compulsory vaccination.

Speaking in a Facebook Live interview with The SUN, Consul Saret said this was reiterated by Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung in a more recent meeting with consular heads.  

Consul Saret says Hong Kong's flight ban on the Philippines is imposed indefinitely 

Hong Kong's no 2 official also reportedly said that the lifting of the flight ban will depend on the number of recorded infections in the affected country, and how its government is managing the spread of the virus.

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Using this as gauge, it is not likely that the ban on the Philippines would end soon, as the country continues to be plagued by an average of 5,000 new coronavirus cases each day, with the problem being compounded by the discovery of new variants spreading within the country.

Deepening the woes of the marooned workers are debts they’ve incurred to pay for three medical examinations required by the agencies, at least two Covid-19 tests including one that should be given within 72 hours prior to boarding, and other prerequisites.

The workers said these pre-departure exams and tests that they had to undergo and pay for have gone to naught due to their cancelled flights.

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Anne Frias, who came from the province, said she had spent Php47,000 on pre-departure requirements and other fees charged by her employment agent, not to mention her fares.

“Di po biro ang gastos namin. May mga dagdag pang rapid test na kamahal-mahal ang agency. Akala nila nagpupulot kami ng pera. Yung medical, pre-medical at final medical, Php10,800, tapos dalawang rapid test, Php3,600 yun,” Frias said.

(Our expenses are just too much. The agency even added a rapid test, which is very expensive. The medical, pre-medical and final medical cost Php10,800, then two rapid tests for Php3,600.)

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“Ngayon 3x nang cancelled flight. Na-rebook ang ticket ko para sa June 1, hopefully makaaalis na,” she said.

(My flight has been cancelled three times. I’ve rebooked my ticket for June 1, hopefully I’ll be leaving soon.)

If she gets lucky, she would just be in time for the easing of travel restrictions on the Philippines. Hong Kong just finished its bi-monthly review of its inbound restrictions for travelers on May 18, which means the next assessment will be on or before June 1. 

Many OFWs have been stuck after HK imposed 21-day hotel quarantine on all new arrivals

Cristine Santos Permosil said she had been waiting for six months and each time her departure date neared, her flight would be cancelled because of tightened restrictions. She said she had to undergo a medical exam three times, only to be overtaken by her visa lapsing.

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Ien Navarra said her flight to Hong Kong was set for Apr 29, but this was overtaken by the flight ban on the Philippines.

“Laking hirap po, laki ng nagastos. Sana po ma-lift na po ang ban. Nag-alala din po ako baka mag-back out na ang employer ko, pero nakaka-chat ko naman po sila sa Whatsapp,” Navarra said. 

(Such a big problem, I’ve already spent much. I hope the ban will be lifted soon. I’m worried that my employer would back out, but I keep in touch with them on Whatsapp.) 

She said there are times when she thinks she should just apply for a job in the Middle East because her family needs her support badly. Her mother and her daughter rely on her solely for support as her elder sister has just undergone surgery to remove a myoma and is unable to work.

Another worker, Myah Arduo Labuena Atinon posted on The SUN’s Facebook how distraught she felt when she learned about the flight ban as she was supposed to leave for Hong Kong on Apr 20, the very day it took effect.

She rebooked her flight for May 11, then May 19, and is now at a loss on when she can actually leave as Hong Kong has yet to indicate when it intends to review its travel ban on the Philippines.

Maria Flor, who is also Hong Kong-bound, said she did not want to be vaccinated, but in her intense desire to take up the job, she had taken the jab, and will be getting her second dose on May 29.

She said her flight on May 4 was cancelled, then her May 20 booking as well. She hopes that the flight ban will be lifted soon because the cost plus the stress of waiting in Manila has been very taxing.

A fellow worker echoed Maria Flor’s and the other stranded domestic helpers’ woes. Mhai Rah said her flight for Apr 22 had been rebooked for May 6 and then May 20. But she was still stuck in Manila on Thursday.

Gedine Balberde said she and several other workers who went home for a vacation are now stranded in the country. Through group chat, they exchange news about their flight.

“Sobrang hirap din kasi nagbakasyon ka lang din dito tapos mahirap makabalik dyan, lalo na may mga naiwan kang utang, at sa mga amo mo din, sa paghihintay nila…Naaaburido na din kami, yung iba nag-back out na at nag-a-apply na lang sa ibang bansa,” she said.

(It’s very hard because you come home for your vacation and then it’s difficult to go back there, especially since you have debt to repay, and to your employers, too, who kept waiting.)

For now, all they can do is hope and pray that the country manages to put the coronavirus infection under control, and convince Hong Kong to open its doors to Filipino travelers  again.

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Pregnant & distraught workers plead for help so they could fly home

By Daisy CL Mandap       

Some of the stranded passengers checking in for a flight home after switching airlines

At least two pregnant Filipina  women who are stuck in Hong Kong because of repeated flight cancellations are appealing for help so they could fly back to the Philippines as soon as possible.

Another just lost her mother and is desperate to go home not just to say a final goodbye, but also because her children have been left without someone looking after them.

These are just some of the challenges faced by an estimated 400 Filipino migrant workers who have been stranded in Hong Kong for months, amid flight restrictions that took effect both here and in the Philippines.

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One of those desperate to leave for home immediately is J.V.R., who is already 30 weeks’ pregnant, and is just five weeks away from being barred from going on air travel.

She said her confirmed air ticket with Philippine Airlines has already been canceled four times, leaving her in distress because she runs the risk of having to give birth in Hong Kong when she cannot even go for an ante-natal check-up because she no longer holds an employment visa.

“Noong Monday schedule ko po sana ng ultrasound sa Kwong Wah Hospital pero di na pala pwede kapag cut na ang contract kaya di na ako nakapag pa checkup ulit,” she said in a message. (Last Monday I was scheduled to have an ultrasound at Kwong Wah Hospital but I was told I was no longer entitled to get it for free since my contract had been cut. I could no longer have a check-up).

 

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J. had hoped to get on board a PAL flight that left Hong Kong on Wednesday, Apr 19, but she was told that the Consulate had failed to get the government’s approval to allow the airline to add to its passenger load.

Consul Paulo Saret, who heads the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, said he had worked on the request to the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force to allow the airline to fly home with 200 extra passengers since last month, but no approval came.

Some of the lucky few who managed to fly out via PAL

Speaking in a live interview with The SUN Wednesday night, Saret said he hopes the requested allotment could be given for PAL’s next scheduled flight on May 26.

 

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He explained the IATF has limited the number of passengers entering the country to 1,500 each day, and the airline has to allocate its government-designated quota to all its flights coming from various destinations abroad.

This entry restriction has compounded problems already faced by the airlines since Apr 20, when Hong Kong imposed a ban on all flights coming from the Philippines in the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.

Thus, for the May 19 flight, only the 68 listed on PAL’s passenger list for that day had managed to fly home to Manila.

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However, it is unclear why PAL has not given priority to its passengers who had been bumped off repeatedly from flights it unilaterally cancelled, and instead, continues to sell tickets to new clients.

Nor is there an apparent answer as to why other airlines like Cebu Pacific and Cathay Pacific do not cancel flights as often as PAL does, so that they hardly have any passengers stranded in Hong Kong despite the arrival cap.

Digging in for the overnight wait for their early-morning flight to Manila

The stranded passengers are also clamoring for the airline to book them automatically for its next scheduled flight, instead of letting them rebook on their own, often at added cost.

It also angers people like J. who has been given a new flight date of Jul 1, when PAL has announced it will be flying regularly from Hong Kong every Wednesday.

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“Hindi na ako pwede mag flight nun. Yun po ang sabi ng PAL, beyond 35 weeks di na ako allowed kaya nanghihingi ako ng clearance na mag chance passenger. Nakailang tawag na ako sa PAL at sa travel agency, wala rin,” she said.

(I won’t be able to fly then. Even PAL said that after 35 weeks <of pregnancy> I will not be allowed to board, so I have been asking for clearance to be included as a ‘chance passenger’. I’ve called PAL and my travel agency, to no avail).

Another stranded passenger, G.A.V., is three months’ pregnant, and is also anxious to go home, knowing that without a working visa, she will not be entitled to free hospitalization, or even remain in Hong Kong.

 

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G. said she has rebooked her PAL ticket twice because of cancellations, and she is also desperate to get help because not only does she have to pay for board and lodging and visa extension, she also has to ensure she remains healthy for herself and her baby.

Luckily, she has linked up with PathFinders, a charity group helping migrant women and their children, so she is more confident of riding out the storm, at least until she gets on the plane that will bring her home.

Another stranded passenger, A.C.A., is despairing because her mother just passed away, leaving her three children without a caregiver. As her eldest is sick, A. said her husband was forced to quit his job so he could look after their children.

“Two times na po na cancel ang flight ko via PAL. Sobrang emergency po ang pag-uwi ko dahil namatay mother namin at maysakit po ang anak ko. Yung amo ko pumayag nang umuwi ako. Please po, tulungan ninyo ako,” she pleaded. (My flight via PAL has been cancelled twice. This is an extreme emergency, I need to go home because our mother died and my child is sick. My employer has already allowed me to go home. Please help me).

She said she’s aware that she may not make it in time for her mother’s funeral, given that she has to undergo quarantine on her arrival in Manila. But she is still determined to go home so she could at least visit her grave, and also get her eldest seen by a doctor.

“Ang sakit-sakit po na mawalan ng ina na hindi ko man lang nakita at nakasama sa huling sandali. Siya po ang nag-aalaga sa mga mga anak ko kaya nahihirapan din sila,” she said. (It hurts so much that I lost my mother, and did not even get to see her and be with her in the last moments of her life. She took care of my children, so even they are having a hard time).

Passengers caught unawares by a flight cancellation meet with PAL officials

Probably the longest holdout among the homebound workers is R.M.E., who said her flight had been canceled an incredible nine times. She said she was hopeful she could get on the May 19 flight of PAL because all of them who had signed up for it did not receive any notice of cancellation.

When the expected 200 additional seat allocation did not push through, R. decided it was time to quit. She booked a seat on the next Cebu Pacific flight, after seeing that a number of her fellow stranded passengers were able to fly home using this airline.

“Bumili na ako ng Cebu Pacific kasi stressed na po ako at nangako silang may uuwi kahapon, yon ang pinakaaabangan namin sa gc (group chat). Iyon lang po talaga,” she said. (I just bought a Cebu Pacific ticket because I was already stressed out since they <Consulate> promised that some would be able to go home yesterday. All of us in the gc had looked forward to that).

Even after she’s successfully flown home, R. said she would still join the rest of her group in seeking redress for the untold suffering many of them were forced to bear while being stuck between a place that was driving them away, and their home country that did not seem anxious to welcome them back.

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Indonesian DH who tests positive on 19th day is sole Covid-19 case

By The SUN 

The Indonesian DH tested positive at Ramada Sai Ying Pun on her 19th day sample

Only one confirmed case of Covid-19 was reported today, May 20, involving an Indonesian domestic helper with no symptoms who tested positive on her 19^th day in hotel quarantine.

According to staff at the Centre for Health Protection, the 26-year-old Indonesian woman arrived in Hong Kong on Apr 19, and was found infected just two days before she was set to be released from quarantine at Ramada Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pung.

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She took Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally to 11,829.

In the past 14 days, a total of 31 cases were recorded in Hong Kong, including five local cases of which one is of unknown source.

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That sole untraceable case is a 4-year-old boy whose case has baffled experts because he tested negative when taken to hospital on Saturday, after being confirmed as infected in two earlier tests.

He is set to be tested for the presence of antibodies, and if the result again turns out negative, he will be taken off the official tally. That will make Hong Kong free of any local unlinked case for the past 27 days.

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However, the CHP staff said that as of today, the boy is still listed as a confirmed case.

In its press release, CHP said it was investigating an overseas case of an 18-year-old woman who left Hong Kong for Shenzhen on May 5 and was yesterday confirmed as Covid-19 positive. Hong Kong was notified about the case by the Guangdong health authority.

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The woman lived in Block 1, The Belcher’s at 89 Pokfulam Road. CHP said it will put the building under a compulsory testing order tonight, and is now conducting epidemiological investigations and contact tracing.

Block 1 of The Belchers will be put under compulsory testing order from tonight

This is the second day in a row that someone was found positive on the mainland shortly after leaving Hong Kong. Yesterday, a 43-year-old man who had quarantined in Hong Kong for 21 days after flying in from Italy was found infected when he arrived in Shanghai on May 16.

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The patient declared on arrival in Hong Kong on Apr 22 that he tested positive for Covid-19 in Italy in late February. After being released from quarantine on May 12, he stayed for three days at the Harbour Plaza Resort City, then flew on to Shanghai where he tested positive.

CHP said its investigation into the two cases, both classified as imported, is continuing.

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Despite the marked drop in the number of infections, health authorities are still urging residents to avoid going out, having social contact and dining out. They should continue wearing a  surgical mask and maintain stringent hand hygiene when they need to go out.

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Filipina torture claimant, jobless Indian resident held for alleged burglary

By Vir B. Lumicao 

The Wanchai building where the alleged burglary happened

A Filipina recognizance form holder and an Indian male resident were charged with burglary in a building in Wan Chai when they appeared in court today, May 20.

The Indian defendant was charged in Eastern Court with a second count of burglary for allegedly trespassing into a part of the building two days after the alleged first offence on May 9,  with intent to steal.

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Leah San Esteban, 41; and Maninder Singh Maria, 34, appeared before Magistrate Peter Law who rejected their bail applications.

No plea was taken from either defendant.

The magistrate adjourned the case until July 15 to allow the prosecution to obtain CCTV footages of the alleged break-ins and obtain legal advice.

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According to the charge sheet, Maria and San Esteban trespassed into the ground floor of 287 Hennessy Road in Wanchai “with intent to do unlawful damage to anything therein.”

Maria returned on May 11 and allegedly broke into the first floor of the same building with intent to steal, the prosecution said.

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The prosecutor said Maria, a permanent resident relying on social security, had six previous cases including three burglary and one robbery offenses.

He committed the present case while he has yet another burglary case pending in court and being on police bail for two theft cases, the prosecutor said.

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His lawyer said Maria was offering $10,000 for his temporary release and his father, who was in the courtroom, was willing to put up another $10,000 as surety.

As for San Esteban, the prosecutor said she came to Hong Kong as a visitor nine years ago and is a recognizance paper holder, meaning she is fighting deportation back to the Philippines.

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Her duty lawyer said she was offering to post $10,000 bail so she could take care of her 8-year-old daughter who is in Hong Kong.

Magistrate Law rejected both defendants’ bail officer, saying Maria could re-offend, as his record shows, while San Esteban has no local ties. He ordered them back into custody. 

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