Pinoy nabistong overstayer nang maaresto dahil sa away

 

West Kowloon Magistracy

Isang Pilipino ang nakulong matapos umamin sa West Kowloon Magistracy na nag-overstay siya sa Hong Kong nang mahigit dalawang taon.

Umamin si Jerome C. Yumul, 51, ng "Breach of condition of stay - overstay" sa harap ni Magistrate Colin Wong Sze-Cheung Noong Jan. 31 matapos basahan ng kaso na isinalin sa Tagalog ng isang interpreter.

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Ayon sa salaysay laban sa kanya, inaresto si Yumul noong Jan. 11 matapos masangkot sa isang away sa tabi ng Shek Kip Mei MTR Station. 

Sa Sham Shui Po police station kung saan siya dinala, itinawag ng pulis na nag-imbestiga sa kaso ang kanyang Hong Kong ID sa Immigraton Department at nalaman ditong ilegal na siyang naglalagi sa Hong Kong simula pa noong November 2019.

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Dumating si Yumul sa Hong Kong noong 2017 bilang domestic helper. Tatlong buwan lang ang itinagal niya sa employer nang materminate siya.

Nakakuha siya ng ilang visa extension mula sa sa Immigration Department dahil kinasuhan niya ang kanyang employer at dinidinig pa ito. Ang huli niyang extension ay noong Oct. 8, 2019.

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Ayon sa salaysay, tumigil sa pagkuha ng visa extension si Yumul dahil nawala daw niya ang kanyang passport. Nang matapos ang huling visa na iginawad sa kanya ay naging ilegal na ang paglagi niya sa Hong Kong.

Ayon sa abugado ni Yumul, hindi daw nito naasikaso ang pagkuha ng visa para manatiling legal ang pagtigil nya sa Hong Kong dahil napaalis siya sa bahay na kanyang tinitirhan at nawala ang kanyang passport.

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Dahil dito, napabayaan na rin niya ang kanyang kaso sa Labour Tribunal, na dahilan ng pagbibigay sa kanya ng visa extension.

Hiningi rin ng abugado na huwag nang ikulong si Yumul.

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Pero ayon sa hukom, hindi wasto na walang parusang kulong sa ganitong paglabag ng Immigration Ordinance, na nagtatakda ng parusang pagkakakulong ng hanggang dalawang taon at multang $50,000.

Ibinaba na lang ni Magistrate Wong ang parusa sa anim na linggo.

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HK agrees to recognize Phl’s digital vaccination certificate

By Daisy CL Mandap 

The recognized format of the digital VaxCertPH

The Hong Kong government has accepted the Philippines’ digital vaccination certificate (otherwise known as VaxCertPH) for entry into the territory.

Consul General Raly Tejada announced the move yesterday, Jan 31, after the Hong Kong government issued a press release adding VaxCertPH in its list of recognized vaccination records.

Before this, only the Yellow Card issued by the Bureau of Quarantine was accepted as proof of vaccination for qualified people who received their Covid-19 jabs in the Philippines, and want to fly into Hong Kong.

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“This is in addition to the Yellow Card, which means travelers now have the option to present either document when checking in at the airport (NAIA) and upon arrival in HKIA (Hong Kong International Airport,” said Congen Tejada.

The news should come as a relief to many Hong Kong-bound travelers, mostly foreign domestic workers who are about to take up a job in the city for the first time.

Thousands of FDWs who were stranded by a four-month travel ban imposed by Hong Kong on the Philippines last year were unable to book their flights and quarantine places in the city immediately because they could not secure an appointment for the Yellow Card, which was used by all Filipinos intending to travel abroad. 

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Some of those who did find slots had to travel to some far-off office of the BOQ to secure the much-needed card.

However, this no longer seems to be the problem but a new ban on passenger flights imposed by Hong Kong on the Philippines and seven other countries beginning on Jan. 8. The ban, which was supposed to last for only two weeks, has now been extended to Feb. 18.

Hong Kong-bound Filipino workers used to wait for a long time to get the Yellow Card

In its statement announcing the recognition of the second vaccination certificate issued by the Philippines, the Hong Kong government also said that it had agreed to accept vaccination records issued by Peru and the United Nations starting next Saturday, Feb 5.

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Peru is currently a Group A or “high risk” specified place, as do 147 other countries. But under a new regulation that takes effect on Feb 5, all arrivals in Hong Kong from abroad will have to undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days in a designated hotel, regardless of the risk category of the place they come from.

On the other hand, the UN has been arranging vaccination for its personnel worldwide, and has been issuing relevant vaccination records. 

Hong Kong will now accept the vaccination certificates issued by the two entities as long as they are in the prescribed format.

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In addition, the vaccines administered to the relevant travelers have to be listed in Hong Kong’s list of Covid-19 vaccines recognized for specified purposes.

Vaccination records recognized by Hong Kong include (a) vaccination records issued by Hong Kong, (b) vaccination records or certifications issued by Mainland or Macao authorities or an institution recognised by Mainland or Macao authorities, (c) vaccination records or certifications issued by an authority or recognised institution of a country where its national regulatory authority is designated by the World Health Organization as a stringent regulatory authority, (d) vaccination records or certifications issued by a relevant authority or recognised institution of a country with which Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement with its government, or (e) vaccination records issued by an organization with which Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement.

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The acceptance of the BOQ-issued Yellow Card and the VaxCertPH falls under category d above.

The complete list of the accepted vaccination certificates can be found here:

https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/202201/31/P2022013100609_386698_1_1643624438614.pdf.

Please click on “Philippines” to see the recognized format of the Yellow Card and the VaxCertPh.

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FDHs & other residents told to avoid gathering over the holidays

By The SUN 

FDHs are advised not to gather, share food and keep their masks on when in public places

The Labour Department has reminded foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to comply with social distancing measures which the government extended today for a further 14 days, or until Feb 17.

Labour said the advisory was issued ahead of the statutory three-day Chinese New Year holidays which starts tomorrow, Feb. 1.

In a separate advisory, the government also advised other residents to stay at home instead of having cross-family gatherings.

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“Although the Chinese New Year is a traditional festival for celebration among relatives and friends, we hope that citizens may stay at home as far as possible and avoid gatherings among families in order to protect public health," the statement said.

Current restrictions prohibit the gathering in public of more than four people, and require the wearing of face masks in all public venues, indoor and outdoors.

No dine-in at restaurants is allowed after 6pm, and most entertainment or leisure venues such as gyms, bars, cinemas, museums, libraries and sports facilities have been closed.

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Labour says FDHs must also avoid gathering in boarding houses and the sharing of food.

"We remind FDHs to strictly observe the requirements and appeal to them to avoid gatherings (including those in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days and holidays in order to safeguard their personal health and reduce the risk of infection,” said the advisory.

Failure to comply with the gathering restrictions will make an offender liable to pay a fixed penalty of $5,000. Organizers of gatherings held in violation of the restrictions may be ordered to pay a fine of up to $25,000.

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During the holidays, Labour said it will conduct mobile broadcasts in multiple languages at popular FDH gathering places across the territory to urge the public to comply with relevant requirements.

The mobile announcements will be carried out in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

The targeted areas are the Chater Road precinct and Edinburgh Place in Central, Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, the footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, Lai Chi Kok Park and other favorite haunts of FDHs.

The statement said relevant departments will take enforcement action those who still refuse to abide by the regulations after repeated reminders.

The evening dine-in ban is extended until Feb 17

Meanwhile, the two-week extension of the gathering restrictions from Feb 4 to 17 was gazetted today, according to a separate press statement from the government.

The decision to extend the restrictions which Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Jan 27, is meant to prevent a mass outbreak of Covid-19 cases by reducing the number of people out on the streets.

"Hong Kong has been continuously recording cases with unknown sources, and samples collected in various districts under sewage surveillance for the COVID-19 virus have tested positive. This shows the existence of silent transmission chains in the community,” said the statement.

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Labour also appealed to all FDHs to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others. The vaccination is free to all residents, including FDHs.

For booking and details, please visit the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).

FDHs and employers who have any enquiries on employment matters may call the dedicated FDH hotline of the Labour Department at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823), by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk or through the online form on the dedicated portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk).

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CE to skip Olympics opening as local spread of coronavirus continues

 By Daisy CL Mandap

 

CE Lam worries about the local spread of Covid-19, with many cases unlinked

Chief Executive Carrie Lam says she has cancelled plans to travel to Beijing for Friday’s opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics, as the number of locally acquired Covid-19 cases continues to rise.

The Centre for Health Protection announced 92 new confirmed infections on the eve of the Lunar New Year, with 80 of them local transmissions, and the 12 others imported.

Thirteen of the cases are untraceable, reinforcing fears that many silent transmissions of the virus are going on in the community.

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Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, CE Lam said she decided to forego attending the opening ceremonies for the Olympics as the city’s pandemic situation has “reversed,” meaning there are more local cases now than imported ones.

CE Lam called the press briefing to reveal the results of an investigation she ordered into whether any of the 15 government officials who attended the Jan 3 party of Natioal People’s Congress deputy Witman Hung had violated health protocols.

Before she spoke, Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui tendered his resignation and the CE accepted it.

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Tsui was one of two officials who stayed on at the party after 9:30pm, when an infected guest arrived. He admitted to not wearing a mask when he talked to other guests.

Caspar Tsui has resigned after being found to have violated gathering restrictions

Two other officials, Allen Fung and Vincent Fung, were given warnings for their behavior.

Meanwhile, the CHP reminded residents to keep pouring water into their toilet drains to prevent possible transmission within their residential blocks.

CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said, “We are now seeing more horizontal and vertical transmissions. In a densely populated place like Hong Kong this is inevitable.”

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However, she said this can be avoided if people poured water regularly into the U-trap drains in their flats especially if their windows are closed, to prevent virus-laden air from spreading to other units through these routes.

Among the buildings where environmental contamination is suspected are:

 - Hong Tim House in Tsz Hong Estate, where 6 units are affected;

 - On Kwai House in Kwai Fuk Court where 8 units are affected and all residents living in 08 flats from 1st to 4th floor need to be evacuated

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- Kwai Yan House in Kwai Fong Estate where 6 units above the 14^th floor need to be evacuated

- Ming Lai House in Choi Wan II Estate where three 05 units on the 10^th floor are affected

- There could also be transmissions at Tsui Wo House in Tai Wo Estate, and the CHP has gone there to investigate.

Cases involving both the Omicron and Delta variants are being found across the city

New clusters of infection have also been detected, including four confirmed and one preliminary positive case at the Shatin Methodist College. Twelve people work together there, and those who have not been infected will be moved to a quarantine centre.

Another three people working at the Bank of China in Trend Plaza in Tuen Mun also tested positive. Chuang said the patients ate together.

Of the 13 cases classified as unlinked, two involved the Delta variant and 10, the Omicron. A sample from the last one has yet to be taken and tested.

The two Delta patients involved a 45-year-old man who works in a kitchen at Lok Fu Plaza and lives in Choi Wan Estate. The other is a 69-year-old retiree who lives in Choi Fung Estate.

The Omicron carriers included a worker at the third runway at Hong Kong Airport and lives at Shek Lei Estate II. Two of his colleague tested preliminary positive, so about 20 other workers there will be moved to Penny’s Bay.

Three people working in Po Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O have also tested positive. Two are confirmed cases while one is preliminary positive.

The other cases involved a wide cross-section of the population. There was a 50-year-old homeless woman with a registered address in Sham Shui Po, a 9-year-old who lives in To Kwa Wan, and various people who live in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Fong, Fanling, Kwai Ching and North Point.

About 95 preliminary positive cases have so far been detected, including a worker at an elderly home in Fung Yam House in Sheng Kung Hui. Some residents there may need to be evacuated.

The city’s confirmed infection case now stands at 14,197, with 213 related deaths.

According to Dr Lau Ka-hin of the Hospital Authority, a total of 1,031 patients are still receiving treatment in the three government infection control centers as well as public hospitals. 

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Mag-Barkadahan na! Pinaka-Bonggang network ng mga OFW sa Hong Kong!

 

Pindutin para  malaman iba pang mga offers sa Barkadahan.

Ano ba ang dapat tingnan sa isang mobile SIM network?

Siyempre yung matatag, malakas at maaasahan! Yan si SmarTone at ang SIM card nila para sa OFW ay ang Barkadahan. Halos 2 dekada na sa serbisyo ang SIM card na ito dito sa HK para sa mga OFW o domestic helpers.

Ginawa nila ito para talaga sa mga OFW para mas mapagaan ang buhay nila dahil alam ng SmarTone na ito sa isang paraan kung paano maka-connect sa mga pamilya sa Pinas. Nandiyan ang IDD pang tawag, pasa load, internet para laging updated sa lahat ng bagay at higit sa lahat ang makapag-Facebook, instant messaging, video call at marami pang iba.

Buhay talaga ng OFW ay nakasalalay sa internet. Sabi nga nila, kung kilay is life, internet is love life! At dahil nga diyan, may promo ngayon na $96 lang ang 2 months internet kapag bumili ng bagong SIM card o pag nilipat mo iyong number galing sa ibang network.

Yes! Pwede mo ilipat iyong number galing sa iba at same number pa rin. Punta ka lang sa Barkadahan shop 159 WWH Central o shop 7 G/F Lik Sang Plaza Tsuen Wan o sa mga promoters sa mga suking Pinoy tindahan sa HK.

Ang offer na ito ay dapat mag install ng MY SIM Account app at mag register VIP pag activate ng SIM.

Ano nga aba yang VIP? Ito ang benepisyo pag laging gumagamit ng Barkadahan. May loyalty rewards na SPoints o SmarTone points. Kada $1 na gastos mo, may katumbas na 1 Spoint. Kapag nag Register ka na as VIP, may mga Freebies ayuda kang makukuha na over $268 worth agad PLUS Birthday Gift yearly! Ang unang regalo mo ay Card holder at sunod naman ay SKY100 Ticket para makapunta ka sa tallest building sa HK at makita ang buong view sa 100^th floor.

At pag Birthday mo naman, may surprise gift ka!

Madaming mga regalo ang inihanda para sa mga subscribers. Kaya dapat tuluy tuloy ang gamit ng SIM para tuluy tuloy din ang mga Freebies at regalo. Ito ang kagandahan kapag stick to one ka lang sa SIM network. May mga bonggang regalo o mga pa ayuda lalo na sa panahon ngayon ng pandemya.

Paano ba mag VIP sa Barkadahan at makuha mga Freebies at ayuda?

Madali lang! Mag install ng My SIM Account App para masa madali niyong i-manage ang inyong SIM card. Kung wala pa kayong app, magdownload at install muna o i-press ang https://wap.smartone.com/bssapp/.

I-open My SIM Account App, i-press yung 3 lines (menu) sa upper left corner ng app, i-select ang Profile at mag register para maging VIP. Sundan lang mga steps hanggat umabot ka sa Congratulations at registered ka na. Simula na yan para ikaw ay makatanggap ng mga regalo.

Masarap maging VIP, pramis!

Para naman malaman iba pang mga offers sa Barkadahan, tingnan aming leaflets o press https://bit.ly/2Uy81zi. Mas bongga talaga sa Barkadahan, pramis! Barkadahan sa SmarTone for the OFW, with the OFW!

Labour Secretary says high infection rate led to flight ban on Phl

By The SUN

 

Law says it's uncertain if the situation in the Phl will ease enough for the ban to be lifted (file)

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong says the number of foreign domestic helpers entering Hong Kong may rise by 50% next month when the compulsory quarantine for all new arrivals is shortened to 14 days from the current 21 days.

Writing in his blog Sunday, Law said that the projected increase in the number of FDH arrivals is also due to an additional 491 hotel rooms set aside for them in two new designated quarantine facilities, O’Hotel in To Kwa Wan and iclub Hotel in Ma Tau Wai.

He said the twin measures will likely ease the severe shortage of FDHs in the territory. From about 400,000 in January 2020 just before the pandemic hit, the total FDH population dipped to 339,000 by the end of December last year.

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But he hinted it is not likely that helpers from the Philippines will be among those who could immediately take advantage of the relaxed entry restrictions. 

He recalled that a flight ban was imposed on the Philippines and seven other countries on Jan 8, as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus raged around the world. He said the number of cases in the Philippines skyrocketed during this time, “doubling every two to three days.”

In early January, he said only 175 Filipino helpers arrived in Hong Kong, but 79 tested positive during the same period, a “shocking” rate of over 40%.

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Thus on Jan. 6 or two days before the flight ban was imposed, he said all five direct flights from the Philippines had already been suspended for two weeks in line with Hong Kong’s “circuit breaker” mechanism.

He said the number of confirmed cases in the Philippines peaked at about 35,000 cases per day on Jan. 18. “Although it has dropped by about one-third since, it is hard to predict whether this will continue or when it will drop to a level low enough for flights to resume,” he said.

Comparatively, he said the epidemic situation in Indonesia deteriorated more slowly than in the Philippines, but is getting worse.However, flights from Indonesia continue.

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Law warned Hong Kong must remain vigilant in guarding against imported cases.

"It can be imagined that tens of thousands of families in Hong Kong are having difficulty in taking care of their family members without the support from foreign domestic helpers. But to avoid overwhelming the public healthcare system, we have to be careful in preventing imported cases," he said.

His blog post came amid a further drop in the number of cases in the Philippines. On Sunday, a total of 16,953 cases were reported across the country of 110 million people. 

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The highest single-day tally in the country was on Jan 15, when 39,004 cases were recorded.

Meanwhile, Indonesia, which has double the Philippines' population, recorded 11,588 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the highest single-day increase since August last year, when the country struggled with the spread of the Delta variant. 

Earlier this month, the number of cases was at a low three digits.

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Vaccinated travelers may skip quarantine when entering Phl from Feb 1

By The SUN

The same rules will apply to fully vaccinated foreigners from Feb. 10, 2022

From Tuesday, Feb 1, all fully vaccinated Filipinos entering the Philippines will no longer be required to spend their quarantine in a hotel but should only self-monitor for the next seven days.

The same rule will be extended to foreign nationals entering the country starting on Feb 10.

All that the vaccinated inbound travelers should do is present a negative result for a RT-PCR (swab) test taken within 48 hours before boarding their flights to the Philippines, plus a recognized vaccination certificate.

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The following vaccination records are recognized in the Philippines: (1) a WHO International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis; 2) VaxCertPH or (3) national/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted the VaxCertPH under a reciprocal agreement (like the HK vaccination record) unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

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Those who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unclear will have to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before boarding, and stay in a quarantine facility until the release of their negative result for a RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day of their arrival.

In addition, they will have to undergo home quarantine until the 14^th day with the date of arrival being the first day. They will be monitored by local government units and barangay health response teams in their destination while they are undergoing home quarantine.

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No monitoring is required for vaccinated new arrivals, but they are required to report to the local government unit of destination should they show any symptoms.

According to the Department of Health, the move was agreed upon by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19 control because of the country’s improved vaccination rate and also because this has now become the norm in many countries abroad.

The move is also seen to hasten economic recovery.

There will be no more testing upon arrival at any Philippine airport

The new protocols replace the existing color-coded classification, where so-called green countries were deemed low risk, yellow countries medium risk, and red countries, high risk.

Until restrictions were tightened recently with the onset of the Omicron variant, only travelers from green places like Hong Kong were allowed to skip quarantine.

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The new guidelines disregard a traveler's country of origin and distinguish only between those who are vaccinated and those who are not, or have unclear vaccination status.

The relaxed rules are due to take effect as the number of Covid-19 cases reported in the country continued to decline Sunday, but remained at a critical level.

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The Department of Health said 16,953 additional coronavirus infections were detected today, although there were 27,638 new recoveries. Twenty more deaths were reported.

The total number of cases recorded in the country so far has gone up to 3,545,680, of which  202,864 are active cases.

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