OWTEL shops raided over alleged illegal lending

 

OWTEL's shop in WorldWide Plaza was roped in during Sunday's raid

Police have arrested 46 people in connection with an alleged illegal lending and money laundering syndicate that targeted foreign domestic helpers.

The police made the announcement at a press briefing yesterday, two days after the shops of mobile phone retailer OWTEL (or One World Telecom) at World-Wide Plaza in Central were raided Sunday afternoon, and its staff rounded up for questioning. 

Reports said its other shops in seven different locations were also shut down.

A police statement released to The SUN today said the anti-illegal loan operations codenamed “DarkCurrent” was conducted from Nov. 24 to 25 and involved two phone shops with multiple branches and a licensed money lender. 

No names were mentioned, but subsequent social media posts by affected Filipino domestic workers named the money lender as RichRen Finance Limited, which has an office in  Mong Kok.

“During the operation, officers arrested nine local men, one local woman, eight foreign men and 28 foreign women aged between 20 and 76, including the mastermind and core members of the syndicate suspected of loaning without a licence,” said the statement.

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Seized during the raids were more than HK$1million in cash, loan documents,  passports and employment contracts. Nearly HK$2 million in different accounts were frozen.

The annual interest rate charged by the group was as high as 400 percent, said the statement. Hong Kong laws only allow annual interest rates of up to 48 percent for loans.

At the press briefing, Chief Inspector Ho Yan-kit of the Hong Kong Island regional crime unit said, “The loan group would use various excuses to induce foreign domestic workers to take out high-interest loans  and use various methods, including charging unreasonable fees and forcing them to buy cheap products, then deduct most of the principal from the borrowers.”

Ho told reporters one of the phone shops was found to have issued loans to 1,500 helpers, amounting to HK$9 million in the past six months, while another had lent HK$30 million to about 5,000 helpers.

 “[The syndicate] took advantage of the victims desperate for a loan and imposed unreasonable terms, handling fees, advance repayment and hidden costs, while forcing them to buy unnecessary electronics to get the loans,” Ho said in Cantonese.

He said the debtors were also asked to provide their employer’s personal details to make sure they paid up, adding that both the helper and the employer were harassed if repayments were not made on time.

Shop staff (in orange jackets) were arrested and herded to the ground floor 

One of the arrested phone retailers allegedly offered a $3,500 loan to a domestic worker, but gave her only $1,000 in cash after forcing her to buy a cell phone for $1,300 and pay extra for processing.

The helper was then made to pay $2,942 in four monthly installments, amounting to an annual interest rate of 102 percent, said Ho.

Another victim who asked to borrow $6,000 from another phone retailer was given only $1,950 in cash, with the rest of the loan amount being given to her in cash vouchers she was to use at the same shop. 

She then had to pay the whole amount in three months, amounting to an annual interest rate of 397 percent.

Another method used was to force victims into paying $1,500 for overpriced and unwanted “gift boxes” containing a mobile phone, skincare products and a small amount of cash. Another $1,800 was reportedly charged as interest and administration fees.

At the same press conference, Chief Inspector Wong King-shing of the Central District crime unit said police had also arrested members of four illegal lending websites and the mastermind of a local lending syndicate.

He said that the police started looking into the case in July after receiving reports of domestic workers falling victim to online lending scams that required them to give up their passports and employment contracts in exchange for loans.

But once they surrendered their documents the websites would only give them half of the loan amount, with the rest being deducted as “administrative fees.” In some of these cases, the annual interest rate charge was 3,000 percent.

Wong said that in just a year of operation, the syndicate had extended HK$700,000 in loans to 140 victims.

The victims were directed to the websites by friends or social media posts, and told to download forms they needed to fill up to secure loans. 

Many were tricked into believing that these were legitimate operations because some websites used names similar to licensed finacial companies.

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Scam alert: Beware of scammers impersonating police officers

 

Graphic from ADCC

The government has warned the public about the latest scam in Hong Kong, in which scammers impersonating police officers send out WhatsApp messages telling recipients that they have been involved in criminal activities.

In a bulletin, the Anti-Deeption Coordinating Centre said the messages may seem genuine because they might cite one’s personal information, but “it does not necessarily mean that they are genuine law enforcement officers.”

It added: “Scammers can obtain the personal information of the public by unlawful means.”

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ADCC said this is how the scam works: “… scammers impersonating senior officers of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) send WhatsApp messages with phone number +852 5687 4117 to members of the public, falsely claiming that they had been involved in illegal activities and asking them to make transfers to designated cryptocurrency accounts as ‘clearance fees’ to assist in investigation. 

In the scams, photos of the HKPF’s senior officers were fraudulently used as WhatsApp profile photos so as to gain the public’s trust.”

But the police said such practices are not done by genuine law enforcement officers. They “will not ask for your online banking password in investigation of cases, or ask you to transfer money to designated bank accounts,” the government statement said.

“If anyone claims themselves as an officer of law enforcement or government agencies and asks for your personal information and assets under various pretexts, you should contact corresponding agencies to verify their identities,” it added.

If in doubt, people can call the “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222”.

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2 SIM CARDS, $50 LANG! ITO ANG NETWORK NG OFW! BILI NA, NOW NA!

 

Dahil magpapasko, ito ang papromo ng SmarTone! Buy 1 get 1 ang SIM card na $50 lang! Kung may kaibigan kang hindi pa SmarTone, isama mo na sa shop at bumili kayo ng SIM. Parehas kayo may 1 month data kung ang kasama mo ay hindi pa nag SmarTone.

Lampas 2 dekada na ang SmarTone sa mga OFWs ng Hong Kong. Kaya naman ito ang number 1 gamit nila na SIM card dahil mabilis ang internet na up to 42Mbps na $88 lang a month. Meron din up to 60Mbps para sa mas masayang internet experience.

Meron din mga libreng regalo sa SPoints ng SmarTone kung lagi mong gamit ang SIM card. Kada gastos mo sa SIM ay may katumbas na 1 Spoint. Hindi lang yan! May mga pa raffle lagi si SmarTone gaya ng 3 motorsiklo at sunod daw ay mga bongga at mamahaling smartphones!  

May mga discounts din sa mga phones hanggang 15% at Free 3 months data kapag Barkadahan sa SmarTone customer ka.

Exclusive yan! Lahat ng phones ay Original at may 1 Year Factory Warranty. 

 

Kaya punta sa Barkadahan Shop 159 WWH Central o Shop B, 1F Jollibee Shopping Arcade, Yuen Long o sa mga Promoters para makabili ng Buy 1 Get 1 na SIM. Dali! Promo ay until further notice!

Para sa iba pang services ng SmarTone, tap here https://www.barkadahansasmartone.com/service-site/BSS/view/english/AL.html.

Para updated lagi sa lahat ng offers, i-follow ang Barkadahan Sa SmarTone Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/barkadahansasmartone.

Kung may tanong, mag WhatsApp lang sa https://www.smartone.com/hk/BSSWhatsAppCS.

Mas bongga talaga sa Barkadahan, pramis!

Barkadahan sa SmarTone: 

For the OFW, with the OFW!

Sikap turns 40

 

Lester Esquilona speaks in the shadow of his mentor and predecessor, Sikap founder Rey Vital

Forty years. That’s how long this group of Filipinos in Hong Kong has managed to not only stay together, but also to continue having fun together, as they do their bit to help other people in the community.

Last Sunday, Nov 24, Sikap Association Hong Kong (short for Samahan ng mga Nagkakaisang Pilipino) led by its hardworking president, Lester Esquilona, held not just one, but two big events, to celebrate the milestone.

Basahin ang detalye!

Kickstarting the celebration was a lunch party held at Rosedale Hotel in Causeway Bay, where the Sikap family, made up by about 70 Filipino residents as well as foreign domestic workers mostly working as family drivers, entertained each other and their guests with songs, dances and lots of surprises.

The fun did not stop there, as the members regrouped at their usual hangout at the Hong Kong Tennis Court on Wong Nai Chung Road in Wanchai, for an even bigger and more raucous celebration, this time in the company of Labor Attache Mel Dizon.

Fun is in the air as Sikap members celebrate their 40th year

“I really wanted our 40^th anniversary to be special because I wanted to show everyone that Sikap Association Hong Kong not only looks after the well-being of its members, but also help needy members of the Filipino community,” said Esquilona.

“I wanted everyone to feel the warmth and love coming from our group,  embrace and love from our group, as we continue gathering every Sunday after playing tennis to have meals and fun together, just like any other Filipino family.”

Esquilona also took time to pay tribute to the well-loved Sikap founder Rey Vital, who became literally the group’s president for life, as he remained at the helm until his passing in 2022.

Keeping the group together was his way of preserving Vital’s legacy of kindness, humility and hard work, said Esquilona. (See story on Rey's passing here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/search?q=Sikap )

The celebration at their Wong Nai Chung hangout, where Labatt Mel caught up

Part of the surprise was the awarding of prizes to members who excelled in tennis, the sport that has bound them together for decades.

Named Players of the Year for scoring the biggest number of wins for the entire year were Liza Marco in the women’s category and Robert Dayao in men’s.

The SUN editor Daisy CL Mandap who was the guest speaker, handed out the trophies. In her speech, Mandap praised the group for sticking together for so long that they have become one of the oldest Filipino community organizations in Hong Kong.

Mandap also commended Sikap for giving back to the Filipino community, especially to the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, which has been their beneficiary for many fund-raising events.

One of the specially made trophies handed out as part of the celebration

The other awardees were Jaquilyn Rodriguez and Liza Marco, champions in Ladies Doubles Category B; with Melody Ytis and Helen Bade as runners-up; and Canolyn Luciano and Marissa Naquila, champions in the Ladies Doubles Category C; with Angeline de Guzman and Aiza Remollena as runners-up.

Taking the crown in the Men’s Doubles Category A were Bingbong Quicho and Elmer Palma, with runners-up Robert Dayao and Leo Hibaya. In Category, the winners were Arnel Dimapilis and Michael Morales, with Roldan Arellano and JM Sabado as runners-up.

For the Mix Doubles, Jonathan Nicolas and Canolyn Luciano teamed up to take the champion’s trophy while Roldan Arellano and Teng Fulgencio settled for second prize.

Named most improved female players in the beginner’s category were Cecil Sabado and Marissa Naquila while in the men’s division, the awardees were Roldan Arellano and Arnel Dimapilis.

The awarding would not have been complete without two fun players being recognized. Named “Most Funny Player” among the men was a boisterous Wilfredo Dario, while Lilia Miguel who was also all smiles won in the women’s division.

There were also prizes galore as different companies serving the Filipino community in Hong Kong donated goods, from cellphones to door-to-door boxes and meal coupons.

Employment agency owner Merlinda Mercado who headed the raffle committee, made sure many of her fellow members went home happy.

A dance by 'oldies' was one of the surprises at the party 

Rounding up the committee of fun were engineer Ric Mercado and coach Randy Vilan, who acted as hosts.

Sikap was founded in 1984 by Rey Vital with the objective of organizing sports events and tournaments to promote unity among Filipinos in Hong Kong. Initially they focused on basketball and volleyball, but later ventured into tennis which now serves as the group’s sport of choice.

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Employment agency loses licence over bid to overcharge FDH

Job hunters at a job fair: it is illegal to charge them more than 10% of their first monthly salary

A failed attempt to charge a foreign domestic helper excessive fees resulted in an employment agency being stripped of its licence by the Labour Department.

 A press release issued by the Department yesterday, November 25, identified the agency as Saiko Hong in Sheung Wan.

The licence revocation followed the conviction on March 18 of the agency’s licensee, as well as an associate, on a charge of attempting to overcharge an FDH, which is a violation of both the Employment Ordinance and the Crimes Ordinance.

The two were fined a total of $16,000 at Eastern Magistrate’s Court as penalty.

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Labour decided to prosecute the two after investigating a complaint filed by an FDH against Sai Hong in September 2022, and finding sufficient evidence to support a charge.

Under the Employment Ordinance, an agency’s licensee,  his/her associate or a person purporting to act in such capacities, is not allowed to collect from a job seeker any fees or charges other than the prescribed commission, which is an amount not exceeding 10 per cent of the first month's salary of the job seeker upon successful placement.

Failure to abide by the Ordinance, as well as the Code of Practice for EAs at all times may lead to prosecution, and/or revocation of the agency’s licence.

The maximum penalty for operating without a licence or overcharging a job applicant is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment of three years.

Also under the EO, the Commissioner for Labour (the Commissioner) may revoke an agency’s licence when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the licensee or an individual employed by the licensee, has contravened any provision of Part XII of the EO or any regulation made under section 62 of the EO.

The Commissioner may also refuse to issue or renew a licence, on the same ground.

Anyone who is charged more than the legally stipulated amount, or wants to report a suspected violation by an agency, may contact the Employment Agencies Administration at telephone number 2115 3667; email: ea-ee@labour.gov.hk; or report directly to Unit 906, 9/F, One Mong Kok Road Commercial Centre, 1 Mong Kok Road, Kowloon).

The Department reminded operators of employment agencies to always comply with the law and the requirements of the CoP at all times, when conducting their business.

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Filipina asylum seeker jailed 3 months for shoplifting

 

Store where one of two thefts took place (Photo: Google Maps)

A Filipina asylum seeker originally arrested for shoplifting was jailed for three months and fined $500 after three of her four cases were resolved today at Eastern Court.

Joan Aguli, 44 years old, was kept in jail despite having been in remand for six months because her remaining case -- breach of condition stay, for overstaying since Sept. 6, 2022 -- was adjourned to Feb. 25 next year to await a ruling on her claim for non-refoulement. 

“I hope you are a genuine victim of the political situation” in the Philippines, Principal Magistrate Don So told her after her defense lawyer said she was appealing at the Torture Claims Appeal Board the rejection of her claim by the Immigration Department.

Aguli’s case began when she was arrested after a routine check on June 27, when she was found to have overstayed for more than two years, having remained in Hong Kong after her work contract expired on Sept. 6, 2022, when she was required to leave.

While she was being investigated at the Wanchai Police Station later that day, a plastic bag containing 0.7 gram of methamphetamine hydrochloride (also known as ice or shabu) was found in her possession, resulting in her detention since then.

After the case was filed in court, police found that Aguli had also stolen 24 packs of chocolates last April 28 from a Wellcome Supermarket branch on Hennessy Road in Wanchai.

Further investigation also revealed another case of theft when she stole 49 packs of chocolate and three packs of sausages at a Market Place store on Jardine’s Bazaar in Causeway Bay last June 21.

Magistrate So sentenced her to three months for each of the theft charges, to be served at the same time, and imposed a fine of $500 for drug possession after her lawyer said she was using the drugs because of depression.

He set aside the prosecutor’s demand that she pay some $3,000 for the goods she stole, saying Aguli had no means to do so. 

Aguli has had four criminal convictions in the past, the prosecutor said. 

‘Hello, Love Again’ ticket sales top Php1billion

 

The movie has so far raked in Php1.6 billion at the box office 

A movie starring Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards has made history by not only the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, it is also the first to earn Php1 billion in box-office sales from around the world.

Among the latest places to screen “Hello, Love Again” was Hong Kong, where its opening-day screening yesterday was packed full of people, mostly overseas Filipino workers. The demand is such that all tickets to its Hong Kong screenings until December 7, have been sold out.

According to both joint producers ABS-CBN Films and GMA Pictures, the total gross ticket sales of the movie as of yesterday was Php1.06 billion, as it continues to be shown in 1,100 cinemas worldwide.

Basahin ang detalye!

“Hello, Love, Again” tells the story of overseas Filipino workers Joy and Ethan who met and fell in love in Hong Kong, then reconnected in Canada after five years. The movie deals with the struggles and challenges faced by Filipinos overseas as they adjust to their new lives away from home.

Its prequel, “Hello, Love Goodbye” which was shot entirely in Hong Kong and shown in 2019, also became the highest-grossing Filipino movie until it was replaced last year by “Rewind,” a GMA Films offering which starred its top stars, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.

But in just five days of screening starting on November 18, “Hello, Love Again” managed to surpass “Rewind”, earning Php930 million gross in ticket sales.

It scored another record with a total take of Php85 million on its first day of screening in the Philippines alone. In the United States, it also made it to no 8 in the Top 10 current box office hits, earning $2.4 million in its opening weekend.

The movie was first shown yesterday in other Asian cities, including Hong Kong

But it is not just at the box office where “Hello, Love, Again” was well-received, but also among fans and critics, who mostly praised the movie for its realistic portrayal of the struggles faced by Filipinos living abroad, but also the top-notch acting of its stars.

Writing on his Instagram account, Alden said: "Thank you for making this happen. We are truly grateful beyond words. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. To GOD be the glory.”

As they thanked their fans and everyone who supported their movie, Kathryn and Alden also announced that part of the earnings of their movie will be given to typhoon victims.

The two are now touring North America to promote their movie, though they took time out to attend the Asian World Film Festival in California where Kathryn also received her Snow Leopard Rising Artist Award. 

“Hello, Love, Again,” a collaboration project between ABS’ Star Cinema and GMA Pictures, served as the closing film at the Hollywood-based film festival. 

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OFW Global Center opens first outpost in HK

 

Staff and volunteers welcome guests at the soft opening rites

The OFW Global Center had a soft-opening today on the 18^th floor of United Center, four floors above the Consulate, to provide a venue for activities of various organizations and even a place for OFWs to rest.

The center, whose 20,000 square feet occupies the whole 18^th floor of United Center, is the first of its kind and will serve as a pilot for testing the idea of providing a central venue for OFWs in various parts of the world.

It is a project of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration and funded by direct appropriation from Congress. Its formal inauguration is scheduled for January.

PINDUTIN DITO

 “This is you tahanan (home),’ Welfare Officer Marilou Sumalinog said during ceremonies to mark its completion. “It is open to all OFWs and Filipinos overseas.”

She added that the center will have free-flowing coffee and will serve sandwiches and biscuits for free.

The center has six event halls which can be subdivided into smaller rooms by movable partitions. “We can use one of them for those who want to sleep. We know we cannot accommodate all who are in Chater and in subways but we will try our best to accommodate as many as we can,” Sumalinog said.

Congen Germie Aguilar Usudan addresses guests

In her speech, Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan said, “We promised to open this center this year. We may have gone through the eye of the needle, but now we are here.”

She added: “This is in recognition of your achievement, hard work and dedication to your families… and how you contributed to the development of Hong Kong, how you allowed their women to work and participate in their work force.”

She also paid tribute to Congressmen, specifically Rep. Yedda Romualdez of the Tingog Party List, who followed up the funds in the budget, “so this can be given to you.”

Basahin ang detalye!

Labor Attache Melchor Dizon advised the Filipino community to make full use of the center, which was patterned after the OFW Lounge at Manila airport’s Terminals 1 and 3, because its success will determine whether similar centers will be put up overseas.

“If we do not use this fully, other countries that also need this service may be affected,” he added.

He also assured that services offered in the Center will be in addition to the programs and services of the Migrant Workers Office and the OWWA on the 29^th floor of the building.

OWWA Director For Administrative and Finance Edelyn Dungan-Claustro, for her part, noted that the OFW Global Center is the first of its kind. “It started here in Hong Kong,” she added.

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DMW visits home of Mary Jane, pledges help

 

Sec Cacdac (in blue shirt) is flanked by Mary Jane's parents

Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac visited the family home of detained Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, in the wake of reports the Indonesian government has allowed her to return home so she can be moved to a detention facility here.

Secretary Cacdac and his team were warmly welcomed by Mary Jane’s parents, Cesar and Celia Veloso, in their house in General Natividad, Nueva Ecija on Friday, Nov. 21.

"Hopefully, we can bring her home before Christmas," Cacdac assured Nanay Celia and the family.

PINDUTIN DITO

The couple expressed gratitude to the Philippine government, particularly President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., for working on Mary Jane’s return, 14  years after she was detained in Java 

Mary Jane was sentenced to death by firing squad. after trial  However,  she has consistently denied knowing she was carrying the 6.5 kilos of drugs found in her luggage.

She alleged that a former friend, Ma. Kristina Sergio, gave  her the suitcase, then asked her to go to Indonesia. She was supposed to go to Malaysia afterwards to take up a job promised her by Sergio.

Cacdac explains to Nay Celia how the government help them

Cacdac and his team were warmly received by the Veloso family who extended gratitude for their visit, and for assuring support for their welfare and  the future of Mary Jane’s two children.

“We are here to provide all the welfare assistance that the government can offer to Mary Jane's family as directed by the President,” said Cacdac.

He promised to provide psychosocial counseling and skills training for Mary Jane’s eldest son, Daniel, along with allowances to help him focus on his studies.

Basahin ang detalye!

The DMW team distributed training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to the rest of the Veloso family, along with some financial assistance and a grocery pack.

Cacdac assured the family that the DMW would continue working closely with them to ensure that they have access to government programs such as medical care and other support programs.

At the same time, the municipal government of General Natividad committed to support the Veloso family through employment assistance and skills training from TESDA.

Cacdac also took the chance to speak with Mary Jane’s sister who is working in Riyadh. On being told about her concerns with her employer Cacdac advised her to remain calm and wait for the visit of Migrant Workers Office staff who would arrange for her safe repatriation.

He also  promised to refer the medical concerns of Celia’s grandchildren to the Department of Health (DOH).

“This visit is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the welfare of our overseas workers and their families. We will not leave them behind, and we will continue to extend support to Nanay Celia and her family, especially in helping them secure a better future for her grand children,” Secretary Cacdac said.

The visit ended with a lunch "salo-salo" with the Veloso family, courtesy of the municipal government and PESO.

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