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Declare yourself as OFW to avail of privilege at Phl airports, says OWWA

Posted on 08 May 2024 No comments

 

The 2 phones that sparked stories that OFWs can no longer bring 'padala' with them

It was all a case of misunderstanding.

This was how Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Arnell Ignacio explained the incident at Clark International Airport on May 4, when a Filipina who had just flown in from Dubai posted live on Facebook her altercation with customs personnel over two mobile phones found in her baggage.

He made his comment earlier today after visiting the airport and receiving a briefing from a customs official about the procedures that they follow in checking items brought in by arriving passengers.

Ignacio learned that the passenger, Majilyn Alina Valencia, failed to indicate in the customs declaration form that she was an overseas Filipino worker so the phones found in her baggage – one branded Oppo and the other iPhone –were subjected to further scrutiny, in line with guidelines for arriving tourists.

TAWAG NA!

Under Customs guidelines for arriving passengers, all items that are brought it are exempt from duties and taxes if their value is less than P10,000. But for OFWs, the threshold is Php150,000. (The summary of the rules may be found here: https://customs.gov.ph/guidelines-for-airport-passengers/)

Ignacio (left) confers with Valencia over the Clark incident

Di mo naman pala dineclare na OFW ka, kaya yung batas na ipinatupad para sa iyo ay para sa turista,” said Ignacio. (Oh so you did not declare yourself as an OFW, that’s why the rule that was applied to you was for tourists).

Ignacio called on passengers to calm down when dealing with airport personnel, as he was satisfied from the briefing that they gave him that they were doing their best to ensure a smooth passenger flow in the airport.

He also said he was satisfied that the tiff resulted from a simple misunderstanding after being told that the phones were given back to Valencia with no taxes being levied on them.

In her live video that immediately went viral, Valencia, who described herself as a businesswoman in her Facebook profile, could be heard protesting loudly after she was told to open her suitcase and the two phones were found inside.

Speaking in her native Pampango language, Valencia asked the customs inspector if they intended to confiscate the items she had worked hard for. The customs staff said they were only holding the items as they were not in Valencia’s declaration form.

The video was cut short after Valencia said she was recording the incident live on Facebook and was told that it was not allowed.

A repost of the live video with a comment hitting at customs staff at Clark

Almost immediately, the official Facebook page of Clark International Airport (CRK) was flooded with hate comments, even death threats, that the agency had to turn off its comments and messaging sections.

Most of the angry comments came from overseas Filipino workers accusing the authorities at Clark of preventing them from bringing in “padala” (presents) for their loved ones, and fleecing them of their hard-earned money.

The CRK said the malicious and hate comments were forwarded to relevant government agencies.

 

Psychiatric report ordered for child molester ahead of sentencing

Posted on 07 May 2024 No comments

 

Tiquia was detained at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre ahead of his sentencing (Wikimedia photo)

A High Court judge ordered a Filipino electronic engineer to be remanded at Siu Lam Psychiatric Center earlier today, so a psychiatric and psychological examination can be conducted on him before his sentencing for three counts of indecent assault on a young girl.

Judge Andrew Chan said he wanted to make sure Joel M. Tiquia, 51, did not pose a risk to the community before determining the appropriate sentence on him.

He set down the sentencing in the afternoon of May 29, saying he wanted the case finished  as soon as possible.

TAWAG NA!

Judge Chan earlier noted that the court files on Tiquia’s previous conviction in 2016 for two counts of indecent assault on a woman had been lost. However, the judge said he was able to retrieve the transcripts of the proceedings in the magistrate’s court where the case was heard.

In that earlier case, Tiquia was sentenced to three weeks in jail for committing indecent assault twice on a woman in a shuttle bus. 

In the first incident which happened in December 2015, he touched the arm of the woman, and about two weeks later, he deliberately sat next to the same woman and rubbed himself against her.

PINDUTIN DITO!

Judge Chan told the defense counsel, “It seems to me that your client has shown some sexually deviant behavior.”

Told that Tiquia was remorseful and just wanted the case to be resolved soon, the judge said this may be the case, but a full psychiatric and psychological report on the defendant, as well as the psychological impact on his victim, were still needed to come up with an appropriate sentence.

Tiquia admitted three counts of indecent assault on a girl inside a flat in Caribbean Coast in Tung Chung, which started in April 2017 when the victim was just seven years old. He repeated the assault the next year, and again  in October 2021, when the girl was 11.

Tiquia pleaded guilty to the charges nearly two years after committing the final offence. He was allowed to post bail until last month, when the judge ordered him taken into custody pending a review of his previous convictions.  

According to the Section 122 (1) of Crimes Ordinance of Hong Kong, a crime of indecent assault could fetch up to 10 years in prison.

Asylum seeker gets 15 months for illegal work

Posted on 07 May 2024 No comments

 

DBay Plaza (file photo from HK Tourism Board)

A Filipino asylum seeker was jailed today for 15 months after pleading guilty at Shatin Court to working illegally in a restaurant.

Acting Principal Magistrate Amy Chan convicted Jim Leo Pascual, 36, and handed him the standard punishment  for “taking employment while remaining in Hong Kong in breach of the limit of stay.”

TAWAG NA!

The Immigration Department charged him with violating two provisions of the Immigration Ordinance  two days after his arrest in Discovery Bay last March 20. He was found to have overstayed his visa, apart from taking up work in violation of his visa condition.

He was arrested during an Immigration check on people working at restaurants in the area on that day.

PINDUTIN DITO!

Under Section 38AA(1)(c) of the Immigration Ordinance, it is an offense to take up employment, whether paid or unpaid, if a person remains in Hong Kong in breach of the limit of his or her stay.

Under Section 38AA(2), such an offence is punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for three years.

Intimidation charge dropped after man is bound over

Posted on 06 May 2024 No comments

 

Building where alleged incident happened

A Filipino construction worker who threatened to harm a woman, got off lightly today after facing a charge of criminal intimidation at Kowloon City Court.

Instead, A. Bacunawa, 51 years old, was bound over to a promise not to commit the same offense for 36 months or he would be made to pay a fine of $2,000.

After Bacunawa agreed to be bound over, prosecutors withdrew the charge.

TAWAG NA!

The police complaint accused Bacunawa of threatening “female X with injury to her person, with intent to alarm her.”

The incident occurred last Jan. 3 in a flat in Man Cheong Bldg, Man Cheong Street, Kowloon.

PINDUTIN DITO!

Under the Crimes Ordinance, criminal intimidation is punishable by a fine of $2,000, and imprisonment of up to two years if convicted summarily or up to five years if convicted upon indictment.

Experts call on high-risk groups to get flu shots now

Posted on 06 May 2024 No comments

 

The third child to succumb to the flu this year died at Eastern Hospital

Fifteen medical groups, along with some lawmakers, have posted a statement online urging those in high-risk groups, particularly young children and the elderly, to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible to avoid the bug, and become at risk for fatal complications.

Among the signatories in the statement posted yesterday were the Hong Kong Paediatric Society, the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society as well as lawmakers David Lam and Rebecca Chan.

The statement came days after Hong Kong health authorities issued a similar call following the death of a third child from the virus this year, warning that more severe cases of respiratory diseases might be in the offing.

TAWAG NA!

The latest fatality was an unvaccinated four-year-old girl who was infected with influenza A and died at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on April 29.

Two weeks earlier, two other girls, aged eight and six, also died after coming down with the flu, while another three-year-old girl was in critical condition. Eighteen other children who mostly did not get the flu shot, also developed severe flu complications.

Before the pandemic and last year, no more than two children died from the flu during the peak periods.

PINDUTIN DITO!

The signatories said children are often in close contact at school, so they are more likely to catch and spread respiratory viruses like the flu, and then infect other high-risk people in their households.

The statement added that the flu could lead to a child contracting severe acute necrotising encephalitis, a disease that leads to extensive multi-organ damage and neurological deficits, or even death.

Apart from children, those at high risk of serious complications from influenza include the elderly and pregnant mothers, and they, should be vaccinated immediately if they haven’t done so yet.

Also last Tuesday, the Centre for Health Protection warned that the dominant flu virus strain might change for a second time given the frequency of travel by residents. This could also extend the flu season that is already longer than usual.

A senior medical officer at CHP assured the public that the flu vaccine is safe and effective, and could reduce the risk of hospitalization by up to 60 percent.

According to the latest figures, about 20 percent of residents at elderly homes and nearly half of children and those aged 65 and above, had not yet received the flu shot.

SEE DETAILS HERE

Pinay fined for helping manage employment agency without license

Posted on 05 May 2024 No comments

 

The unlicensed employment agency was located here

A Filipina has been fined $10,000 for helping operate an employment agency without a license, after pleading guilty at the Kowloon City Court.

Nena A. Baluyos, 52, was meted the punishment by Deputy Magistrate Lau Hon-wang on April 29 after she responded to a summons to appear in court to answer a charge laid by the Labour Department.

PINDUTIN DITO

The charge, dated Feb. 22, 2023, described her offense as assisting in the management of an employment agency “being neither the holder of a licence or certificate of exemption in respect of an employment agency, nor an associate of the holder….”

The offense -- violating Section 51(1) and and punished by Section 60(6) of the Employment Ordinance -- was committed between February 2019 and October 13, 2022 at Shop B22, 1/F Planet Square, 1-15 Tay Man St. Hung Hom, the complaint said.

The name of the agency was not mentioned.

TAWAG NA!

Baluyos apparently got off lightly.

Section 51(1) of the ordinance provides that: “A person must not operate, manage or assist in the management of an employment agency unless the person—

“(a)is the holder of a licence or certificate of exemption issued in respect of the employment agency; or

“(b)is an associate of the holder.”

PINDUTIN DITO!

Section 61(6) Ordinance specifies that the punishment for a “person who contravenes section 51(1)” is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.

To find out if an employment agency you are dealing with is licensed, go to: https://www.eaa.labour.gov.hk/en/disclaimer-search.html

The Labour Department hotline for Foreign Domestic Helpers is 2157 9537.

SEE DETAILS HERE

OFW artists collaborate with HK-based filmmaker in children’s book

Posted on 05 May 2024 No comments
The book's cover names both the author and MDW illustrators 

Hong Kong’s first children’s book to be illustrated by migrant domestic workers and written by film director and scriptwriter Joanna Bowers, will be launched through immersive, hands-on activities, on May 11 at Asia Society in Hong Kong.

The book, My Extra-Special Aunty, features the works of Cristina Cayat and Noemi Manguerra, both founding members of Guhit Kulay, which is comprised of MDW artists in Hong Kong.

Bowers said that in her book, she wanted to capture the special bond between Hong Kong and their domestic workers, known colloquially as “aunties,” and play an integral role in the lives of many Hong Kong families.

PINDUTIN DITO

“By sharing this enchanting story, we hope to inspire children and families to foster meaningful connections that transcend boundaries,” said Bowers.

My Extra-Special Aunty is narrated from a child's perspective, and aims to foster empathy, kindness, and respect among children, their families, and their beloved aunties. It is depicted in both English and Traditional Chinese.

Bowers had her first directorial debut with the documentary “The Helper,” which premiered in Hong Kong in 2017, followed by a theatrical release. It was screened at the Lincoln Center in New York City in February this year.

TAWAG NA!

My Extra-Special Aunty is her first book.

Cayat, who was one of two OFW-collaborators on the book and has years of experience writing articles for The SUN, said she is proud to contribute her artworks.

“Coming from the northern part of the Philippines, I wanted to bring my culture into this book by using traditional design and clothing. I think it's the perfect tool to start a conversation, inspiring young readers to appreciate different cultures and understand their Aunties better,” said Cayat.”

PINDUTIN DITO!

Manguerra,  who is now based in Canada, said her role was to illustrate the characters in the book using watercolour, which is her favourite medium.

“I believe that through the power of art, we can bridge gaps and build understanding. I'm honored to be a part of this project that showcases the incredible talent and diversity of migrant domestic workers,” she said.

The team behind the book came together in 2018 at a charity event organized by Enrich HK, and agreed to collaborate on a storytelling project using various techniques such as poetry, hand illustrations, painting, and textiles, and focus on the emotional attachments between domestic workers and the families they serve.

My Extra-Special Aunty is now on sale at The Lion Rock Press and Bookazine outlets. 

SEE DETAILS HERE

16 people arrested in latest anti-illegal work operations

Posted on 05 May 2024 No comments
One of the female suspects is led away by Immigration officers

Sixteen people were arrested in a three-day operation mounted by the Immigration Department to flush out illegal workers and their enablers.

Those arrested comprised 10 suspected illegal works, three employers and three aiders and abettors.

The raids conducted on April 29 and 30 and May 2, were staged in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police.

PINDUTIN DITO

In the first series of operations 22 locations were targeted, including a massage parlour, premises under renovation, a residential flat and restaurants.

Seven suspected illegal workers, comprising three men and four women were arrested, aged 28 to 64. Among them, two women were found to hold recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking up any work. Two other women possessed forged HKID cards.

One man aged 48, was arrested along with them on suspicion of having employed them.

TAWAG NA!

Two men and one woman, aged 34 to 44, who were suspected of aiding and abetting a person who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong, were also arrested.

In a separate operation, 16 locations in Eastern district were targeted.

Three suspected illegal workers, comprising one man and two women, aged 36 to 50, were arrested. The man was found to possess a fake HKID card.

lysergide.

PINDUTIN DITO!

One man and one woman, aged 45 and 49, who were suspected of employing the illegal workers, were also arrested.

Immigration again warned that illegal work is a serious offense, for which the penalty is a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment if the offender is a visitor.


The prison term goes up to three years if the offender is an overstayer, subject to a removal order or was refused permission to land.

Those who use of possess a forged HKID card or one belonging to another person can be imprisoned for up to 10 years and fined $100,000.

Employers face the highest penalty of a maximum fine of $500,000 and a jail term of up to 10 years.flat.

SEE DETAILS HERE

Filipina who threw baby off window gets probation

Posted on 04 May 2024 No comments

 

The High Court judge said the accused had suffered enough

A 25-year-old Filipina smiled in relief as a High Court judge sentenced her to 12 months’ probation on Thursday for failing to disclose the birth of her baby girl, whom she threw out of the bathroom window of a Lantau flat four years ago, thinking she was dead.

During her probation, Jill Naomi G. Villanueva, who used to work as a parttime receptionist, must be of good behavior and keep in close touch with her probation officer. She must also reside with her mother in Lantau, and comply with a curfew of between 12midnight to 6am.

It took Judge Allen Lee some time to consider the sentence on Jill Naomi G. Villanueva, thinking that if he followed the probation report he would be restricting the power of Immigration to deport Villanueva back to the Philippines if it so deems as her dependant’s visa had lapsed while her case was ongoing.

PINDUTIN DITO

Villanueva had been in jail for 22 and a half months before she was granted bail in February this year, after the original charge of manslaughter was downgraded to concealing the birth of a child. This was after the prosecution conceded it could not rule out the possibility that the baby had been dead when she was tossed out the window.

Defense lawyer Jimmy Ma assured the judge that there was a big chance Immigration would extend Villanueva’s visa as her mother, a permanent resident of Hong Kong, was willing to take her back.

Judge Lee then asked if it if wouldn't be better if he just sentenced Villanueva to a jail term as that would result in her being freed immediately as she had spent enough time in detention. That would allow Immigration to decided whether to deport her, or allow her to continue living in Hong Kong on a dependant’s visa.

TAWAG NA!


“I don’t want to tie the hands of the Immigration Department,” the judge said, adding that if Immigration decided to deport Villanueva after the sentencing, a probation order could not be enforced.

He said the maximum jail term for the offence for which she was charged was 24 months in jail, so she could be freed immediately, having served enough time in jail.

But Ma suggested this was not a viable option as Villanueva really wanted to remain in Hong Kong to live with her mother. He also said that in cases of this nature, the intent of the court is for rehabilitation rather than punishment.

PINDUTIN DITO!

Further, he said that at the time of the incident, Villanueva’s mind had gone blank, “she was in panic, she did not know what to do,” said Ma. She also had no intention to hide the baby’s birth, otherwise she would not have thrown her off the window, and onto a place where she could easily be seen.

Also, as she had been in custody for nearly two years, “I believe she has been punished enough," said Ma.

In the end, Judge Lee agreed to impose probation, but added that this was not to “fetter the Immigration Department’s work.

“I just hope that the defendant’s case will be dealt with in a sympathetic way," he said.

The judge agreed that Villanueva had suffered enough, and would have to live with what she did for the rest of her life.

The evidence showed that the baby was born premature, and was delivered by Villanueva, head first, in the toilet of the flat at about 3am that day. According to her, the baby did not cry.

After picking up the baby from the toilet, she washed her and wrapped her in some clothing, but there was still no response. In panic, she threw the baby outside the window.

At about 10:30am that same morning, passersby saw the baby on the street outside no 116, Tong Fuk, Lantau Island and called police. Paramedics confirmed the baby was dead at the scene.

According to the agreed facts, Villanueva had a relationship with a Pakistani male colleague in mid-July 2019, when she was 21 years old, which resulted in her getting pregnant.

She told her superior at her workplace but kept the pregnancy from her mother.

She went to the hospital twice for consultation after developing abdominal pain, and an abortion was suggested. However, she insisted on being discharged both times as she did not want her mother to know.

A forensic examination revealed that the baby had multiple injuries including skull fractures and bleeding in the head, heart, lungs and kidneys, which may have been caused by her falling from a height.

However, while the injuries may have been caused by the fall, the pathologist did not rule out that the baby was stillborn, or had died shortly after birth.

In a similar case decided in July last year, a 42-year-old woman was put on probation for two years for killing her baby girl by throwing her off a footbridge in Tsuen Wan in 2022.

The High Court accepted that Leung Ka-yi, 42, was suffering from postpartum anxiety at the time.

Although she pleaded guilty to infanticide, no custodial sentence was imposed on her.

In sentencing, Judge Esther Toh described the case as a "tragedy", having gotten pregnant during the pandemic and could not visit her mother who had dementia while isolating.

SEE DETAILS HERE

Filipina’s drug case elevated to District Court

Posted on 04 May 2024 No comments

 

The case was too serious to be tried at the magistracy level

The case against an overstaying former domestic helper who was arrested with substantial amounts of drugs in her possession, was elevated to the District Court Friday. At the hearing at Eastern Court, prosecutors said a new charge would be added to the  three earlier filed against her.

Emilia Tamorite, 43 years old, was remanded in jail custody by Magistrate Vivian Ho until the next hearing at the District Court on May 23.

PINDUTIN DITO

Tamorite’s first charge resulted from her arrest on Sept. 7, last year at the staircase of Leishun Court on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay. Allegedly seized from her was 2.6 grams of dried marijuana leaves.

A bigger quantity of dangerous drugs was allegedly found on Sept. 23 in a her flat in Shing Kung Mansion on Electric Road, North Point.

TAWAG NA!

Seized at the time were 6,658.2 grams of a solid containing traces of tetrahydocannabinol, 7.91 grams of a solid containing 0.07 gram of tetrahydocannabinol, 19.94 grams of a liquid containing 13.72 grams of tetrahydocannabinol, 67.9 grams of a solid containg 0.42 grams of psilocin, 163.72 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 9.93 grams of a solid containing 7.5 grams of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 85 tablets containing a total of 14.1 grams of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3.79 grams of crystalline solid containing 0.87 grams of methamphetamine chloride (or shabu), 1.27 grams of a solid containing 0.87 gram of coccaine, and 10 pieces of paper containing traces of lysergide.

PINDUTIN DITO!

During investigation, police also found out that Tamorite had overstayed her visa, having been allowed to enter and stay in Hong Kong as a domestic helper until July 9, 2020 but stayed on until she was arrested on Sept. 25, 2023.

Tamorite’s latest charge involves an additional substance, 264.61 grams of a liquid containing nicotine, allegedly found in her possession when she was arrested at her flat.

SEE DETAILS HERE

WOW! MAY DISCOUNT ANG BARKADAHAN SIM SA 7-11!

Posted on 03 May 2024 No comments

 

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Basta Barkadahan sa SmarTone, talagang always panalo! 

Suki ka ng mga 711 sa Hong Kong di ba? Heto ang bonggang offer ng SIM card. May $10 discount kapag bumili ng 2 Barkadahan sa SmarTone SIM sa lahat ng 7-11.  Isang SIM ay $50 na may 1 month UNLI DATA na. Pag 2 SIM ang binili mo, $90 lang! 

Kaya kung hindi ka pa SmarTone, bili ka na. Hindi na kailangan pumunta pa sa Central o sa mga Pinoy stores. 

At kung hanap mo ay pangalawang SIM kasi may isa ka pang phone, eh i-SmarTone mo na yan!  

Ito ang SIM Card ng Pinoys sa Hong Kong. Basta Pinoy, SmarTone na yan! 

Sa SmarTone, mabilis ang data speed mo kumpara sa iba. 

At may mga Points dito. Pag lagi mong gamit ang SIM, may points kang naiipon pang palit sa mga bonggang regalo gaya ng loads, beauty products, door to door box at marami pang iba. 

22 years ng kasama ng mga HK OFWS ang SmarTone kaya ito ang gamit ng karamihan. 


Dali! Mag Barkadahan sa SmarTone na kayo! 


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Para sa iba pang mga offers sa Barkadahan, press: 


Kung may tanong, mag text sa WhatsApp Hotline


Mas bongga talaga sa Barkadahan, pramis! 

Ito rin ang SIM ng mga Pinoys at  Number 1 Most Used Network ng mga OFW sa Hong Kong ayon sa Anova Market Research Company. 


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