Duterte says he only wanted peace in the Philippines

 

Duterte suggested OFWs build him a monument showing him with a gun

Amid continuing speculations that the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant of arrest against him, former Philippine President Rodrigo told about 2,000 supporters in Hong Kong that he did everything in his time so Filipinos can have a little peace.

“Ginawa ko ang nararapat para magkaroon ng kaunting kapayapaan ang mga Pilipino,” he told the crowd made up mostly of Filipino migrant workers in an event held at Southorn Stadium in Wanchai on Sunday, Mar. 9.

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Duterte addressed the reports about his possible arrest head-on, saying the ICC had been hounding him for a long time, then followed this up with an expletive.

The ICC has been investigating the large number of killings by police and hitmen during Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs, which left thousands of mostly poor Filipinos dead.

Duterte with his senatorial candidates

In a more serious tone, Duterte added: “Assuming na totoo, bakit ko ginawa ito? Para sa sarili ko? Sa pamilya ko? Para sa inyo ito, at inyong mga anak.”

(Assuming the allegations are true, why did I do it? For myself? My family? It was for you and your children).

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He then said in jest that overseas Filipino workers should build him a monument just like the national hero, Jose Rizal. But while Rizal held a book, he should be shown holding a gun.

His surprise appearance at the event left a number of OFWs in the audience in tears, in a show of fondness and support for the embattled former president.

A number of women supporters shed tears on seeing the former president

Earlier, media reports in the Philippines announced Duterte had flown to Hong Kong in the face of his possible arrest because of the warrant issued by the ICC.

Online media portal Rappler, citing “informed sources,” said the warrant was issued on Saturday, Mar. 8. It also said Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz had admitted hearing about the said warrant being issued.

However, the ICC itself has not made an official announcement on this, or commented on the report.

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The Hong Kong event which was supposed to be a thanksgiving meeting between Duterte and overseas Filipino workers was organized by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, a religious group founded by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is in jail in the Philippines on charges of money laundering, human trafficking and abuse of minors.

Quiboloy was among the senatorial candidates in next May’s mid-term elections in the Philippines endorsed by Duterte at the event. The others were incumbents Christopher Go and Ronaldo dela Rosa, along with Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, lawyers James Bondoc, Vic Rodriguez and Raul Lambino, actor Philip Salvador and Dr. Richard Mata.

VP Sara is all smiles at she hints at running for president in 2028

Making a surprise appearance at the event was Vice President Sara Duterte, who hinted at running in the next presidential election in 2028.

“Nagpapasalamat ako dahil from 2016 hanggang 2025 nandiyan pa rin kayo…Sa tulong ninyo at sa kampanya para sa akin sa nakaraang halalan noong 2022…at sa susunod na halalan sa 2028 (joke),” she said.

(I am grateful because from 2016 until 2025 you are still there…for your help and for campaigning for me in the 2022 election, and in the next election in 2028 (joke).

VP Duterte, who faces an impeachment trial at the Senate, repeatedly spoke of how she had been scammed, in an obvious reference to his very public falling-out with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

“Nabudol lagi,” she said in her native Visayan language (I was tricked),

She hinted that she had agreed to campaign on a platform of unity and continuity, only to realize later on that Marcos had other thoughts, or that he would not do his part of the deal.

It is unclear whether Ex-President Duterte will fly back to the Philippines to belie reports about his possible arrest, or remain in Hong Kong and travel on to another country, which could further fuel speculations about his fate.

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Worker groups denounce treatment of DHs who fall ill in HK

 

Union leaders present their findings in press conference.

Hundreds of foreign domestic helpers who fall ill with serious illnesses such as cancer while working in Hong Kong faced injustices while fighting their illnesses, according to two migrant groups.

The Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions (FADWU) and Filipino Migrants Cancer Support Society Hong Kong (Filmcass-HK) presented data documenting 195 cases of MDWs who suffered injustices.

Some were allegedly denied treatment after illegal termination, while others suffered from employers’ malpractices, such as unpaid wages and sick leave allowance, refusal to cover medical expenses and forced sacrifice of statutory rest days for hospital appointments, they said in a press conference.

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Filmcass-HK said its data showed that 30% of these migrant domestic workers were illegally terminated due to their health conditions.

“The termination of an MDW's employment results in the loss of their legal status in Hong Kong, subsequently denying them access to public hospitals at the subsidized ‘eligible person’ rate,” it said. “This drastic change can cause the cost of crucial treatments, such as chemotherapy, to skyrocket by up to 64%, rendering them financially unattainable for MDWs.”

While the Employment Ordinance prohibits termination during paid sick leave, and the Disability Discrimination Ordinance protects against unequal treatment due to illness, MDWs are often deterred from pursuing legal claims, the groups said.

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The fear of losing access to vital medical care during the lengthy legal process forces many to abandon their rights. Consequently, the majority of terminated MDWs either return to their home countries in search of treatment or face the end of their lives without proper care, they added.

"It is discriminatory, inhuman, and potentially illegal to terminate a worker on health grounds," stated a spokesperson for FADWU and Filmcass-HK. "We demand the government grant MDWs who bring a case against their employer for discriminatory treatment due to health continued access to public healthcare at an eligible person’s rate."

The two groups also reported that even MDWs who retain their employment while seriously ill face severe exploitation.

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Among 67 documented cases, seven workers received no salary, 30 were denied medical expense coverage, 13 had only partial medical expenses covered, and 14 were forced to use their rest days for hospital appointments. Only 10 workers received full support from their employers.

The fear of termination and subsequent loss of medical access silences many MDWs, is preventing them from reporting employer violations, the groups said.

“Providing continued access to public healthcare after termination would empower these workers to assert their rights without fearing for their lives,” they added.

The two groups presented their key demands:

• Grant MDWs who file discrimination claims due to health, continued access to public healthcare at the "eligible person" rate.

• Enforce existing labor laws to protect MDWs from illegal termination and exploitation.

• Increase awareness of MDWs’ rights and provide accessible legal support.

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Duterte leads campaign sortie in HK amid talks he fled possible arrest by ICC

 

Duterte with bodyguards at Manila airport before leaving for HK
(Facebook photo from Lance Kurt Z Duterte)

Former Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte is in Hong Kong to lead the campaign rally of the PDP-Laban candidates in the upcoming senatorial elections in the Philippines. But there is also widespread speculation that he fled the country yesterday to avoid arrest by the International Criminal Court.

According to online posters, Duterte will be the main guest at an event at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai called “Pasasalamat kay PRRD with OFWs” to be led by followers of his ally Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is in jail in Manila on charges of human trafficking and money laundering.

Duterte and Quiboloy’s photos were displayed prominently in the poster, along with that of the former leader’s daughter, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.

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The poster, which said the event will be held from 9am to 5pm, also showed pictures of the senatorial candidates supported by the Dutertes, including incumbents Bong Go and Ronaldo dela Rosa, as well as Rep Rodante Marcoleta and lawyer Vic Rodriguez.

Despite this, talks swirling in the Philippines say the elder Duterte had fled the country amid the possible issuance of an arrest warrant against him by the ICC for his alleged crimes against humanity that resulted from his bloody war on drugs.

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Various reports surmised Duterte may not return to the Philippines after his Hong Kong trip and could instead seek refuge in China, whose leaders he was known to be friends with.

There were also unconfirmed reports that Duterte will be joined in Hong Kong by his embattled daughter, Vice President Sara, who was recently impeached by the lower house of Congress and could be put on trial by the Senate.

Duterte supporters shared this poster of Duterte's talk with OFWs in HK

But the speculations were quashed by Duterte’s former chief presidential counsel Salvador Panelo, who said the former president will meet with overseas Filipino workers at the Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai, to thank them for their continued support for him and his daughter.

In a Facebook post, his grandson, Lance Kurt Z. Duterte, also scoffed at the reports he attributed to “paid mainstream media” and trolls that his grandfather had fled the Philippines as he was about to be arrested by the ICC.

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“Common sense naman, may magtatago ba na sinasabi kung saang lugar pupunta? Antatangang mag-isip,” his post read. (Have some common sense, why would somebody who plans to hide would say where he is going? What a dumb thought).

Duterte arrived in Hong Kong at 10:25am on Friday aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX912, which left Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 8:41am. He had travelled from Davao City to Manila the previous day, and stayed in Taguig City before catching the flight to Hong Kong.

The Consulate in Hong Kong acknowledged reports of his arrival, and said it was monitoring his movements.

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Ateneo’s OFW program set to reopen in HK

 

The Ateneo School of Government’s landmark project that seeks to empower Filipino migrants and their families through lessons in leadership, financial literacy and social entrepreneurship is set to launch in Hong Kong again next month.

Those interested to join this year’s cohorts in the Ateneo School of Government's Overseas Filipinos' Leadership, Innovation, Financial Literacy and Social Entrepreneurship (ALSE OF-LIFE) Program must pre-register and attend face-to-face interviews on the dates, time and place indicated below:

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Date: 16 & 23 March 2025
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 NN
Place: OFW Global Center
18/F United Centre, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Registration Fee: $200.00

Those who are successful in getting admitted into the program will have to pay the course fee of HK$1,200 in three months.

The course sessions will run for 2 Sundays each month, 9am to 5m, starting in April and will finish in November. They will all be held at the OFW Global Center.

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To date, 5200 OFWs and their family members have graduated from the program which has been held in 39 countries as well as 7 cities in the Philippines. In Hong Kong, ALSE has been conducted since 2012.

The program not only seeks to impart valuable lessons in financial literacy and entrepreneurship, but also helps OFWs prepare for their return and reintegration back in the Philippines.

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To register, scan the QR code in the poster or click this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSck2aLM9MIEQnJsi-khGB42LqfDxQk2In54eXuGXoDHhY4cxw/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawI3rB5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHY64xPGwu03PQxHa5sn9YTTOgXNxlMMJCIBhiyKiYC06kSiGBao68YYfYw_aem_Vb80uGLxsOxh_uNT65z1NQ

For more details, please contact the following via WhatsApp:

Analyn: 65009288
Lhotzky: 62164198
Rose: 59056560

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DH caught selling food in Central avoids jail

Central attracts many vendors

A domestic helper accused of violating her condition of stay by going into business selling food in Central, has avoided getting jailed after the prosecutors offered no evidence when she appeared at Shatin Court Thursday.

The charges against L. Echano, 43 years old, were dropped after she agreed to be bound over, with the promise not to reoffend for 12 months, or else be fined $2,000.

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Magistrate David Chum charged her $300 for costs, to be taken from her bail.

Echano was arrested on June 16 last year while selling food to fellow Filipinas having their Sunday day off in Central.

A complaint from the Immigation Department said she violated her condition of stay, granted by an Immigration officer on Feb. 23, 2024, that she “… only take such employment as approved by the Director of Immigration, namely, to work as a domestic helper for the address specified in the employment contract…”

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Such viiolation is punishable under the Immigtiob Ordinance, which states: “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and to imprisonment for 2 years.”

In a separate case, Elyn Cuevas, 50 years old, also avoided jail after she was meted a suspended sentence by Magistrate Chum for overstaying for one year and one month.

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Cuevas was charged with breach of condition of stay after she surrendered to the Immigration Department. She was given until Jan. 11, 2024 to leave Hong Kong, but she remained until her arrest.

Magistrate Chum gave her a sentence with a starting point of 30 days, gave her a discount of 20 days for pleading guilty and a further two days for voluntarily turning herself in to Immigration – suspended for 12 months.

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Ex-HK OFWs shine in DMW’s tribute to women

 

A standee honoring Rodelia is among those displayed at the Women's Bazaar

Three former domestic workers in Hong Kong are sharing the spotlight in the ongoing Women’s Bazaar launched by the Department of Migrant Workers on Mar 3 in celebration of National Women’s Month.

Two of them were chosen to be among a group of former overseas Filipino workers turned entrepreneurs who showed off their products at the bazaar, while one, Rodelia Pedro, was honored for the extraordinary contribution to the migrants community in Hong Kong.

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Rodelia was the founder of the Domestic Workers Corner in Hong Kong, which pioneered a structured and immediate relief channel for Filipino migrant workers facing challenges in their work, from learning how to cook Cantonese cuisine, to linking up abused workers with rescue workers.

For her exemplary work in helping her fellow migrants, Rodelia was named Bagong Bayani for community and sociala service in 2021, and honored as an outstanding OFW in this year’s celebration of Women’s Month.

Secretary Cacdac inspects native outfits made by OFWs from the Cordilleras

She was lauded along with 2021 Natatanging Bagong Bayani Awardee Nurse Divina Digap and fellow Bagong Bayani Awardee Regina Vallejo; as well as Marine Captain Jasmine Lavarda, teachers Grace Valencia and Cherry Dangan and entrepreneur Matilda Leo.

Meanwhile, two other former HK OFWs who have successfully launched their own businesses  after going home for good were among 18 women entrepreneurs from the “Buy Local, By OFW” program of DMW who were featured in the bazaar.

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They are Cristina Cayat and Irene Balanoy, both from Baguio City, who have teamed up to showcase the best products from the Cordilleras, from bottled jams and coffee to modern-day Igorot outfits.

Cris poses by the booth she shared with Irene at the Panagbenga festival

Cristina and Irene have partnered in a number of ventures lately, including their highly successful participation in the famous Panagbenga festival of Baguio City this year. Currently, they are also takig part in another bazaar at Camp John Hay in the city.

Cristina decided to return home last year, after a spike in demand for the Igorot costumes and accessories she designed and executed in her spare time in Hong Kong, where she had worked for three decades.

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Irene, on the other hand, is a single mother who decided to go back home during the pandemic to look after her three children.

They are among OFW entrepreneurs included in the BLBO program which is part of DMW’s reintegration efforts with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other government and non-government agencies.

The Women’s Bazaar will run until Mar 31 at the DMW building in Mandaluyong City.

 

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Paano makakakuha ng $246+ na biyaya: Lumipat sa Kabayan Prepaid SIM sa halagang $38 lamang

 

Ang iyo bang mobile internet service ay sobrang bagal?

Gumamit ng Kabayan Prepaid SIM Card para sa mala-kidlat na bilis na hindi mo nakukuha sa iyong provider. Ang kailangan mo lang bayaran ay $38 upang magamit mo ang dati mong numero.

Ang kapalit nito ay $246 na halaga ng reward.

Ang Kabayan ay nakatuon sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong pang mobile na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng lahat.

Upang hikayatin kang tangkilikin ang data plan na naibabagay sa iyong pangangailangan, sa murang halaga at mahusay na suporta sa customer, may bagong espesyal na alok ang Kabayan:

 

Magaang na Stored Value ($38):

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Libreng 4.5G Lightning-speed Package (na nagkakahalaga ng $108) sa unang buwan

Sa iyong unang buwan, magkakaoon ka ng $108 unlimited 4.5G Data Package ng Kabayan. Magagamit mo ang malakidlate sa bilis na hanggang 100Mbps sa unang 50GB, at 60 Mbps pagkatapos. Angkop na angkop ito sa streaming ng iyong mga paboritong show, paglalaro ng game, o pagiging konektado sa social media.

 

Tuloy-tuloy na buwanang Reward ($100 data bonus):

Ula sa pangalawa hanggang ika-anim na buwan, makakatanggap ka ng $20 data bonus buwan-buwan. Ang benepisyong ito ay makakatulong sa iyong pagtitipid magbibigay ng makabuluhang mobile experience habang nasasanay ka sa aming serbisyo.

 

Dagdag na Reward (10% bonus)

Sa Kabayan SIM Card, sa bawa’t pag-reload mo sa iyong account, bibigyan ka ng dagdag na 10% bonus sa load.

 

Da Best na Customer Support

Ang Kabayan family ay nakatuon sa pagbibigay sa iyo ng tulong na kailangan mo upang ma-enjoy ang kanilang sebisyo. Inuuna nila ang iyong kasiyahan at matulungin sa bawa’t tanong na mayroon ka.

Magsimula Ngayon!

Sumali sa Kabayan at pumasok sa mundo ng mala-kidlat sa bilis na koneksiyon at serbisyo.

 

Para sa dagdag-kaalaman o pag-aaply, puwede mong tawagan ang Kabayan customer service sa 22117799! O kaya ay i-follow ang FB account ng Kabayan upang makibalita sa kanilang pinakabagong alok.

Facebook: https://reurl.cc/267GnE

Address:

Eksklusibong Tagapamahagi, Shop 355, 3/F World-Wide House, No.19 Des Voeux Road, Central

Filipina gets suspended sentence, fined for getting 2nd HKID under new name

 

What will you do if you lose your Hong Kong ID card?

To Filipina domestic helper Lenie Quigao, 57, the solution was to apply for a new one under her maiden name, Lenie M. Antonio.

But her thumbprint gave her away, and she was arrested right at the Immigration Department on March 21, 2024 when she applied for the replacement ID card.

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In Shatin court this morning, she said she could no longer recall her old HKID card number, and thought it would be easier if she just applied for a new one. 

She also said that before she applied for a new ID, she had written to the Immigration Department but did not get a reply, so she went ahead securing a new one under a different name. 

For this, she was charged before the Shatin Court of violating the Registration of Persons Regulations which prohibits residents from having more than one HKID card. 

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She pleaded guilty to the offence, and was fined $1,000. In addition, she was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. 

Magistrate David Chum told her she need not go to prison if she does not commit any criminal offense during the next year.

The Regulations prescribe a maximum penalty of a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and to imprisonment for two years.

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Filipino helper arrested after baby ward got scalded by hot water

 

Photo posted by the baby's father on Facebook shows part of the child's burnt arm

A 48-year-old Filipino domestic helper arrested by the police yesterday on suspicion of child abuse, two days after a one-year-old baby under her care suffered burns from hot water.

The case was brought out on Facebook by the baby’s father, who posted photos of the boy’s scalded right arm, which also appeared to have a large patch of peeling skin.

The father claimed that the child’s injuries were the result of the helper retaliating after he reprimanded her on Monday for failing to clean the house properly.

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He said that after the scolding the helper took the baby to the kitchen where she was cooking congee. Shortly afterwards the baby started screaming, and when his wife rushed to the kitchen they saw the helper holding the child under running water.

The helper reportedly claimed that the baby had pulled the wire of the electric kettle, causing hot water to spill on him, and leaving him with burns to his torso and right arm.

The baby was rushed to Prince of Wales hospital for treatment, and was discharged after two days. The father said they were told by the doctor that their baby suffered second-degree burns, and might need skin grafting in future.

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After the baby’s discharge, his mother went to the police to file a complaint, and the helper was arrested.

The investigation is now being handled by the Sha Tin District Criminal Investigation Department. The police said the accused "is provisionally charged with one count of abusing or neglecting children or young people in their care" and will appear in Shatin Court today, Mar 7.

Staff at the assistance to nationals section of the Migrant Workers Office told The SUN that they have not been informed about the case yet, but they will definitely extend help if needed.

The father’s post on the Facebook page dedicated to domestic workers but is in Chinese, garnered a lot of attention. The commenters, presumably all employers, have urged the father to go to the police and ensure the helper is prosecuted for child abuse.

But Cynthia Tellez, manager of the Mission for Migrant Workers, is urging the public against making swift judgment, saying it would be too harsh to accuse the helper of deliberately harming the baby just because her employer had reprimanded her.

“Only the truly evil will do such a thing,” Tellez said. “It is unfortunate that the baby suffered extensive injuries, but we should also ask why the helper had to bring the baby to the kitchen while cooking when the employers were at home at the time, and could have looked after him themselves.”

But, she added that since the police are already investigating, the public should refrain from making their own conclusions and judgments on the case.

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