Comelec says internet voting on, but where’s pre-enrolment link?

 

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Comelec chair George Garcia announces the start of historic online voting, but does not provide link

The first internet voting for overseas Filipinos was proclaimed by the Commission on Elections to have begun yesterday, with the pre-enrolment for voters scheduled to kick in.

However, the link for pre-enrolment, which had already been delayed by 10 days, was nowhere to be found on any of the Comelec’s official websites or social media pages.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia told reporters yesterday, Thursday, that it was the first day of pre-enrolment for internet voters. 

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“Today is the first day of enrolment, you must enroll yourselves on our website, everything is there…,” he said, adding that that it would only take less than two minutes to complete the process.

He advised Filipinos abroad that they must enroll first to get a code, then use that to secure a ballot and cast their votes.

He said the Comelec is “lenient” in that it will accept any government-issued IDs, expired or new passport, seaman’s book as proof of identity for the pre-enrolment, which was supposed to run from yesterday, Mar 20, to Apr 7.

Provided, however, that people who will pre-enrol are registered overseas voters.

Comelec's advisory on pre-enrolment merely provides a link to its website

The pre-enrolment will serve as a dry run for the actual enrolment which will start on the first day of overseas voting on Apr 13, up until May 5, or a week before the election ends on May 12.

Only the online media portal, Rappler, noted that the pre-enrolment link was missing, and said that it had already sought clarification about it from Comelec’s Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) but have yet to get a reply.

Comments on OFOV’s Facebook page raised the same question, with some raising concern about a possible glitch, or blaming Comelec for being remiss in its duty. 

Not a few said they had doubts about intenet voting and would rather vote as before.

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In Hong Kong, the Philippine Consulate has again scheduled a briefing on pre-enrolment with Filipino community leaders this coming Sunday, Mar. 23. A session set a week earlier did not go as planned because the original start of the list-up on Mar 10 was canceled at the last minute.

Internet voting will replace face-to-face casting of ballots or voting by mail in 77 overseas posts where there are sizeable numbers of Filipino voters, and the internet system is not restricted, as in China and Russia.

Comelec and the OV Secretariat of the Department of Foreign Affairs are working hand-in-hand to boost voter turnout with the new system.

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In the 2022 presidential election, a record 38% of all registered overseas voters turned out to vote. Hong Kong’s turnout was nearly twice this much in terms of percentage. Of the 93,886 registered voters, 62,252 or 64% had cast their ballots.

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Pinay jailed 1 year for $287K theft

 

Estate where theft was committed (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina domestic helper was jailed for a year on Friday after she admitted stealing $287,000 worth of items from her employer.

Jinky Catalan, 36 years old, pleaded guilty after the charge of violating section 9 of the Theft Ordinance was read to her. 

Principal Magistrate Don So handed down the sentence right after her plea.

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Catalan admitted stealing one bracelet, five pairs of earrings, six rings and seven necklaces from her employer’s flat at Grenville House on Magazine Gap Road, Mid-Levels.

The theft was committed between June 2 and Nov.20 last year.

In Kwun Tong Court, another Filipina also accused of theft was remanded in jail after her case was adjourned by Acting Principal Magistrate Leung Ka-kie,

 

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Jennifer Ducusin, 40 years old, was charged with stealing $772,161 worth of items and $2,500 Chinese yuan in cash.

Information filed by Tseung Kwan O Police listed the stolen items as three necklaces, 17 rings, five pairs of earrings, eight bracelets, thee gold chains, one gold coin, two gold ingots, three pendants, two watches, one handbag, one scarf, one shawl, and one ivory scale.

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The theft allegedly happened between July and November last yea at the employer’s flat at Green Park on Razor Hill Road in Tseung Kwan O.

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DH’s cases of theft, misleading police elevated to DC

 

Estate where thefts were alleged

The Kowloon City Court has elevated to the District Court a domestic helper’s two cases of theft of 10 watches from her employer and a charge of misleading the police by reporting a burglary on their house.

In the first charge, Vanessa Vallespin , 39 years old, is accused of stealing a watch from her male employer at Sunderland Estate in Kowloon Tong on Dec. 2, 2024, according to information filed by the Kowloon City Police.

She was then accused of stealing another another nine watches two days later.

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Although the total value of the watches was not disclosed in the charges, the amount must have been substantial enough for Acting Principal Magistrate Ko Wai-hung to elevate the case to DC.

The third charge, “knowingly misleading a police officer by giving false information” stemmed from Vallespin  allegedly telling a police officer investigating the two thefts that unknown persons who broke into the house were responsible.

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Section 64(b) of the Police Force Ordinance penalizes such offence with a fine at level 1 ($2,000) and imprisonment for six months.

Magistrate Ko adjourned the case to April 3.

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Final rites set for Filipina DH who died of cancer

 

Death came two weeks after May was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 

Friends and family of the late May Mallillin who passed on in Hong Kong Mar 12 due to complications from ovarian cancer are set to give her a final farewell this coming Sunday, Mar. 23 at Universal Funeral Parlor in Hung Hom.

May, who was 45 years old and single, will be brought to her final resting place in her hometown of Solana, Cagayan.

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According to her sister Julie Mallillin Cagumbay, May started having stomach problems in January this year. On Feb. 1 it became so unbearable that she had to be taken to Kwong Wah Hospital in Kowloon, where a lump was found in her ovary.

“Pagkatapos ng isang linggo, ovarian cancer na,” Julie told their cousin Alma Bangayan, who had been updating May’s family on her condition, and helped run a fundraising campaign for her through the Facebook group, Social Justice for Migrant Workers.

May was visited by many caring friends while she was in hospital

Initially, surgery was ruled out in her case, but in the first week of March her condition turned critical because of a blood clot in her lung, forcing doctors to operate on her twice.

Friends said she managed to withstand the two surgeries despite her fragile condition. According to one of them, Divina Apostol, May fought hard to overcome the pain and her illnesses.

But it did not last long before May succumbed to pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot that got lodged in her lung.

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According to Julie, May had worked in Hong Kong since 2015, and managed to go back home only once, in 2017, when her first contract expired. After that she had been exiting in Macau at the request of her employer.

She was a go-getter who made many friends in several Filipino community organizations she joined.

Those who wish to pay final respects may go to Rm 202, 2^nd floor of Universal Funeral Homes at 10 Cheong Hang Road in Hung Hom on Mar 23 between 4 and 6pm.

  

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Collapsed Pinay regains consciousness after brain surgery

 

The Filipina was operated on at Queen Mary Hospital

A 64-year-old Filipino domestic helper who was found unconscious by her employer yesterday, Tuesday, inside their flat at Robinson Garden Apartments on Robinson Road has regained consciousness following an operation.

According to one of her friends, the Filipina named Nenita was found with a blood clot in her brain, which required immediate surgery.

Another friend, Jenny, said the employer had already visited Nenita along with another Filipina helper who shared a video showing the patient conscious though still a bit disoriented.

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Jenny said Nenita is about to finish serving her two-year contract with her employer and will no longer be renewed, causing her a slight worry as she still wants to remain in Hong Kong.

However, Nenita’s employer had reportedly assured her that she would be paid all that is due her.

The police said it was the employer who called them at 10:48 am yesterday, after finding Nenita unconscious on her bed.

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Officers who responded to the call immediately took her to the hospital.

The police said they were still investigating the case although no foul play is suspected.

Welfare Officer Marilou Sumalinog of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said they will visit Nenita later today to check on her condition and extend assistance if needed.

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5 acquitted of indecency towards child after alleged victim changes story

 

District Court

Four Filipinos and a Bangladeshi were acquitted today of “indecent conduct towards a child under the age of 16 years” and common assault, on the third day of their trial scheduled for two weeks at District Court.

Judge Clement Lee told the five -- Benjur Macaraig, 46; Julie JR Arcega, 32; Gina Villanueva, 51; Jimwoel Macaraig, 53 years old; and MD Moazzim-hossain, 42 -- that they had no case to answer after the alleged victim, identified only as X, told the court through a video link that her earlier accusations were a result of a bad dream.

X, now 13 years old and was 10 when she claimed to have been attacked inside their hut on Kung Om Road in Yuen Long on Jan. 3, 2023, was responding to cross examination by a defense lawyer when she admitted that her accusations were from a bad dream.

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She repeated her statement when asked by the lawyer to do so.

All the five as well as X’s parents, are holders of a recognizance form that identifies them as non-refoulement claimants seeking to stop the Hong Kong government from sending them to their home countries.

Only three of the five were set free after Judge Lee’s ruling, as two of them were detained by other courts for unrelated and pending charges of breach of conditions of stay filed by the Immigration Department.

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As non-refoulement claimants, it is illegal for them to accept employment, whether paid or unpaid.

One of them, Arcega, was arrested while working illegally in a door-to-door company’s warehouse, The other, Villanueva, was under detention on an Immigration case.

The trial began last Monday with the prosecutor presenting a videotaped police interview of X describing how the five, who were neighbors of X’s family, entered their house through a broken front door, enter the bedroom where she was home alone, undressed and touched her body.

On the third day, however, she changed her story. 

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Trial begins for 5 accused of indecent acts on child

 

District Court

The trial of four Filipinos and one Bangladeshi accused of indecent acts towards an 11-year old child two years ago in Yuen Long, began today at District Court with a video being played of a police interview of their alleged victim describing how she was undressed and her body touched.

Prosecution introduced X, who is now 13 years old, as the prime witness via video link and then presented the recorded video interview of her describIng the incident in English to a female police investigator.

Judge Clement Lee reminded her to tell the truth and identify herself as X when swearing in, and declared that the court will protect her identity during the two-week trial.

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The five -- Benjur Macaraig, 46; Julie JR Arcega, 32; Gina Villanueva, 51; Jimwoel Macaraig, 53 years old; and MD Moazzim-hossain, 42 -- were arrested after the incident which allegedly happened inside a hut on Kung Om Road in Yuen Long on Jan. 3, 2023.

The five, who were neighbors of the victim's family, are accused of committing “indecent conduct towards a child under the age of 16 years”, which is punishable with imprisonment of up to 10 years under the Crimes Ordinance.

They are also accused of common assault, which is punishable with up to a year in prison under the Offenses Against the Person Ordinance.

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In the video recording, X told the investigator that she was home alone, in her bedroom using her mobile phone, when the five entered the house through the front door, whose lock was broken.

They then proceeded to the bedroom.

“They asked me to undress,” X said. When she hesitated, one of them took off her T-shirt, and the others helped remove the other clothing, including her underwear.

“They touched me everywhere… including my private parts. I was crying… I was pretty scared,” she said. “They looked like they were on drugs…. They were laughing loudly.” She said she was also slapped.

The group left after a few minutes, and she put her clothes back on.

X said she told her parents what happened when they arrived, and the police were called.

The five were on bail ranging from $1,000 o $10,000, but two of them remained in detention for cases unrelated to the trial.

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Govt urged to take caution in charging public hospital patients

The govt plans to charge fees for CT scans and MRIs to cut down on waiting time (File)

Hong Kong’s plan to start charging patients in public hospitals for such services as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has elicited mixed reactions, with some experts saying caution is needed in getting the plan implemented.

Luk Che-hung, a former senior Hospital Authority official said the government should cap the medical expenses of patients so they become “reasonable”.

Luk said some medical services cost a lot, so putting a cap on the charges would ensure a patient is still able to afford the treatments.

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His call came in the wake of Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau’s announcement of a plan to charge certain patients for expensive and highly sought after hospital services such as CT scans and MRIs to prevent abuse.

But Lo said hospitalized patients or those needing emergency care would be exempt.

Luk said he was in favor of revising the fee mechanism as it could help reduce waiting times at public hospitals or force those who can afford it, resort to getting private healthcare.

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However, it could add to the burden on the emergency and triage sections of public hospitals as some patients might try to get the treatments done at A&E to avoid paying.

Meanwhile, a patient’s group representative expressed concern that the co-pay plan could deter some ailing people, especially those from the middle class, to defer or avoid seeking medical help.

Alex Lam, chairman of Hong Kong Patients' Voices told RTHK that patients who are not qualified to receive social welfare assistance because of the means test would hesitate to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for hospital treatments, even if it would mean not getting prompt diagnoses.

“In the end, their condition may get worse,” said Lam.

In announcing the co-pay plan, Lo said the demand for such complicated imaging services such as CT scans and MRIs keeps increasing, resulting in longer waiting time.

“We have to stress that these items are completely free now, as they are fully funded by the government, and that has led to an excessive use of services,” he added.

Lo said the fee adjustment and charges is needed to better allocate resources and ensure prompt treatment for patients who are in serious condition or need urgent care.

 

 

To be able to vote online you need to enrol first

 

Community leaders listen to Vice Consul Jose Angelo Manuel

You may be a registered voter in Hong Kong for overseas voting in the Philippines, but you may not be able to cast your ballot in the country's first election over the internet that starts on April 13, unless you have enrolled in the new voting and counting system.

Vice Consul Jose Angelo Manuel, Chairman of the Consulate’s Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) in Hong Kong, emphasized this Sunday, as he asked community leaders to help spread the word to their members so they can vote any time, anywhere using their gadgets.

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He was speaking at a training session on online voting at the OFW World Center on the 18^th floor of the United Centre Building in Admiralty.

He said registered voters can pre-enroll and take part in test voting using their own computers, tablets or mobile phones through a web page that will be launched on Thursday, March 20, and will remain open until Apr. 12.

The actual enrolment will take place at the start of the month-long election on Apr 13, and continue only until May 7, or five days before the election ends. 

Once enroled, they can proceed to cast their ballots starting at 8am on Apr 13, until the polling ends at 7pm on May 12, again using their own gadgets. 

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Unlike in the past when voters in Hong Kong had to go to the Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town to physically cast their ballots, all registered electors this year can vote in the comfort of their homes or elsewhere as long as they have pre-enroled.

Manuel said the Consulate will assist anyone who may have difficulty enroling as a voter, or casting their ballots.

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“Kung hindi alam bumoto, kung walang PC, kung walang phone, o hindi makaintindi ng English, punta lang po kayo sa Konsulado. Kami na ang bahala mag assist,” he said. (If you don't know how, or you don't have a PC or a phone, or you can't understand English, just come to the Consulate. We'll assist you).

Voting centers will be set up at the Consulate for people with these problems, he added.

Hong Kong has 83,330 registered voters, of whom 79,487 or 95 per cent are women, according to the Commission on Elections. 

Internet voting which will be held at most overseas posts for the first time this year, is expected to boost election turnout by making the process easier and more accessible.

Filipina held for alleged theft of jewelry, cash over 4-year period

 

The Filipina is accused of stealing 14 expensive jewelry items (File)

A Filipina domestic helper was returned to jail after appearing at Shatin Magistracy on Mar 13, charged with stealing a number of expensive jewelry and substantive cash from her employer – over a four-year period.

Nishel G. Narag, 43 years old, was told to appear in court again on April 4 for another hearing of the case.

She is accused of stealing 14 different pieces of jewelry plus cash from the flat of her employer Leung Iu Ping at Tower 5 in Festival City, Shatin, between “an indefinite day in 2021 and 28 Jan. 2025.”

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She was arrested after the last alleged theft, and taken to the Shatin police station for questioning on Jan. 30 this year.

It was not clear from the charge sheet why it took long for the alleged thefts to have been uncovered.

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The jewelry items she is alleged to have stolen comprised of 5 gold bracelets, 2 diamond rings, 2 gold necklaces, 1 platinum bracelet, 1 diamond necklace with pendant and 3 gold rings.

She is also accused of stealing 6,500 British pounds and 10,000 Euro, valued at HKD237,242.32 in total.

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Under Sec 9 of the Theft Ordinance, the maximum penalty for the crime of theft is 10 years’ imprisonment.

 

16 people linked to illegal cleaning work arrested

Police hold a press briefing on the arrests

A pre-dawn raid by law enforcers on several residential estates in Tseung Kwan O and Tai Po early today, Sunday, resulted in the arrests of 16 people suspected of engaging or abetting illegal work.

The group, comprising 12 men and four women aged between 27 and 66, were arrested by a team of 80 officers from the police and Immigration Department.

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The raids were conducted at cleaning stations, refuse collection points and staff rest areas in the estates.

Of the 16 arrested, 12 were suspected illegal workers hired by four local foremen to do cleaning work at housing estates and malls for which they were paid between $300 to $500 per day.

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Of the 12 suspected illegal workers, seven hold recognizance papers or documents that allow them to pursue applications for non-refoulement or against being sent back home.

Three of the workers were illegal immigrants, one came in as tourist, while another was a two-way permit holder from China.

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Most of the non-Chinese workers were Vietnamese.

The four other people arrested were local foremen who had recruited the illegal workers through referrals from former recruits.

A number of forged documents were seized during the operation, including identification documents, identity card copies, work uniforms, employment records, and cleaning equipment.

An investigation into the operation is underway, and more arrests may follow as officers contact the companies involved in hiring the illegal workers.

Immigration has again reminded employers to take extra care in verifying the legal employment status of jobseekers.

Illegal work is a serious offence in Hong Kong, with offenders facing a maximum jail term of between two and three years, and a $50,000 fine.

Those who employ illegal workers are punished more severely, with a maximum jail term of 10 years and fine of up to $500,000.

 

2 Filipinas accused of fraud in booking tennis courts plead guIlty

 

Wong Nai Chung tennis courts (Google Maps photo)

Two of three Filipinas charged with conspiracy to defraud for booking tennis courts on behalf of other people, pleaded guilty at Shatin Courts last Friday (March 15) and were remanded in jail as their sentencing had been put off.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong scheduled the sentencing of Helen Habungan, 43 years old, for April 7.

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She admitted conspiring with a certain Joseph Mosqueda in getting permission from the director of Leisure and Culture Services and his officers to use public tennis courts “under circumstances which they would not otherwise have granted.”

Magistrate Cheang did not set a sentencing date for Ammar Mendoza, 65 years old, who admitted conspiring with a certain Graeme Foster by “dishonestly and falsely misrepresenting that you hired the tennis courts…,” according to the complaint filed by the Immigration Department.

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This was because she still had another charge pending, breach of condition of stay, for allegedly doing work other than that of a domestic helper, which Cheang adjourned to April 7.

The third Filipina accused of conspiracy to defraud was Dolly Gay Manaligod, aged 32, who did not make a plea so her case was scheduled to resume on the same date.

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Manaligod is accused of conspiring with a certain Lucas Miguel Caceres, for whom she allegedly booked tennis courts.

She was released on $1,000 bail.