Info drive on safe remittances launched

 

PCG and Customs officers kick-starting the information drive

Keep the money you send back home safe by dealing only with licensed money remittance and delivery companies.

This is the message that the Philippine Consulate General and Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department want to send out to migrant workers, by coming out with a bilingual information brochure titled “Tips on Choosing Remittance Services.”

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The infographic released on May 13 aims to help safeguard the money sent home by Filipino migrant workers, which altogether constitutes 8.3% of the country’s gross domestic product and 7.8% of the gross national income.

Statistics from the Central Bank of the Philippines show that personal remittances from overseas Filipinos reached an all-time high of over US$38 billion last year.

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The infographic urges overseas Filipinos to send money only through licensed and reputable money service operators.

Under Hong Kong’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), operating a money service or remittance center without a license from the Commissioner of Customs & Excise (CCE) is an offense for which the maximum penalty is imprisonment for two years and a fine of $1,000,000.

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To kick-start the project, overseas Filipinos who were at the Consulate during the launch, including those attending the post-arrival orientation seminar were enjoined to listen to speakers about the collaborative work.

PCG warns against 'sponsored' visa scam

 

The PCG's warning against employment visa 'fixers'

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong has issued a warning against “fixers” pretending to be employees of licensed recruitment agencies who offer fictitious employers to foreign domestic workers.

The said fixers are known to offer domestic workers the names of supposed local residents willing to sponsor their employment visa for a fee of between $20,000 and $25,000.

The domestic workers are then assured they can take up other jobs that pay more, as they are not required by the registered employers to work for them.

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Many of those who agree to such offers are terminated FDWs desperate to remain in Hong Kong, and are lured by the promise of higher pay by working as cleaners, dishwashers, packers, and other non-skilled jobs for which the market demand is high.

The PCG’s warning came in the wake of a number of cases of Filipino domestic workers being sentenced for up to 12 months in jail after being found to have lied to immigration officers about their supposed employers.

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“Unfortunately several MDWs (have already been) arrested and convicted for false representation to an Immigration officer by taking part in this modus operandi,” said the PCG advisory.

Under the Immigration Ordinance, false representation to an Immigration officer is punishable with a fine of up to P150,000 and up to 14 years in jail.

In one such case, Celia Tamani, 38, was sentenced to nine months in jail on May 15 after being found to possess fake employment documents on her return to Hong Kong after the mandatory exit to another place abroad.

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She was convicted after admitting using a false instrument, presenting a fake notification slip for extension of star and re-entry to Hong Kong on Apr 23, and breach of condition of stay as she remained in the city without lawful authority.

She was found to have lied to Immigration when she said in her application for extension of stay that she would work as a domestic helper for a certain Tang Kok-bun.

How to check if the agency is licensed in HK or the Philippines

Another Filipina,  Jo An Mantos, 39, was jailed for five months after being arrested as she was about to fly out of Hong Kong, having been found to have lied to an Immigration officer and submitted false documents to get her stay extended.

She repeated the offense last May 13 when she told the same lie to an Immigration officer at the departure area of the HK International Airport.

The highest sentence of 12 months was imposed on April 24 on Crischalyn Alban, 43, after she pleaded guilty to false representation.

According to the police case, Alban lied when she told an Immigration officer on Aug 20 last year last year that she would work for a local resident as a domestic helper, and presenting an employment contract to this effect. 

The contract turned out to be fake, and was submitted to allow the defendant to remain in Hong Kong under a foreign domestic helper visa.

Several more Filipinos who are under FDW contracts are due to appear in court or stand trial after being arrested at commercial establishments while allegedly doing illegal work.

 

20 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations

 

Immigration officers round up illegal work suspects

Immigration officers arrested 14 suspected illegal workers, three employers and three overstayers in the latest series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations.

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted its opertions codenamed "Fastrack", "Lightshadow", "Twilight", and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion", for four consecutive days from May 19 to May 22.

During its anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 75 target locations including commercial buildings, massage parlours, residential buildings, restaurants and retail stores.

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They arrested 12 suspected illegal workers comprising five men and seven women, aged 36 to 60. 

Among them, one woman was a holder of recognisance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment. Three women were also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

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Another three women, aged 53 to 60, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested.

During operation "Champion", enforcement officers raided 30 target locations in Sham Shui Po District.

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Two suspected illegal workers were arrested. The man and the woman both aged 42, were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment.

An ImmD spokesman reminded the public that illegal work is punishable with a fine of up to $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. “Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," the spokesman added

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The penalties are even higher for those caught in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment.

It is also a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable, with penalties including a fine of up to $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment.

OFW mistakenly reported as dead by ‘hacker’

 

Still photo from Evelyn's 'proof of life' video

News that a Filipina had died after being found unconscious on her bed prompted an unknown person to falsely identify the victim as Evelyn E, even sharing her passport photo to support the claim.

The fake news spreader shared a supposed post from Evelyn’s  ward, saying she was found unresponsive in bed, holding a shattered cell phone which she had supposedly tried to use to call for help from her male employer.

The more discerning reader would have wondered why the only item that was covered in her passport page was her date of birth, while the more sensitive information like her name and face had been left untouched. 

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Obviously, this was done to make readers believe that Evelyn was the 56-year-old unidentified Filipina who was reported to have died, when her photo shows she is a lot younger.

Nevertheless, the fake story immediately circulated through Facebook shares until it reached the office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Hong Kong, which immediately asked the employment agency which recruited the worker to check on Evelyn.

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Evelyn, who was then busy cooking her employer’s dinner, was as shocked as the agency representative when she learned of the fake news that was circulating,

She immediately did two live Facebook posts showing she is alive and well, and asked whoever had posted her passport photo and told people that she had died, to take down the malicious post immediately. 

She said her account had been hacked, but did not offer an explanation as to who could have done it, and why.

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She also did not respond categorically to questions as to how her passport had ended up in the wrong hands, saying a number of people already had photos of the document as her account had been hacked previously.

Evelyn relayed that she heard of her supposed death at past 5pm yesterday from a neighbor she met by accident outside her employer’s flat. She was too busy the whole time she did not have the chance to hold her phone, much less scroll through social media posts.

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Even her employer could no longer call her on her mobile phone that she had to use their landline to talk to her.

Evelyn said  that she will report to OWWA today to seek advice.

 

Filipina helper dies after being found unconscious

 

Queen Mary Hospital where the Filipina migrant worker was declared dead

A 56-year-old Filipina working as a domestic helper who was rushed to hospital unconscious had died early on Saturday.

Reports said the helper’s employer called the police at about 9 am after finding the Filipina in great pain inside her room in their lat on Lyttelton Road, Mid Levels.

Paramedics who arrived at the scene found her unconscious, and immediately transported her to Queen Mary Hospital  in Pokfulam. But her condition rapidly deteriorated, before she was declared dead.

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Marites Palma, founder of Social Justice for Migrant Workers, said she had called the helper’s recruitment agency after some concerned Filipino workers contacted her for help.

Palma learned that the deceased had been having recurrent severe stomach ache and had already asked to be released from her contract. Just before she died, the helper had reportedly complained of another severe stomach pain.

Medical findings as to the cause of her death will be known only after the autopsy result is released.

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Palma sad the agency representative and the deceased helper’s sister who is also working in Hong Kong will report to the Consulate tomorrow to talk about repatriation details.

Court clears DH accused of assault on 3-year-old ward

 

The alleged assault was said to have taken place in a flat in this development (Google Maps)

A domestic helper accused of assaulting a three-year-old girl under her care, has been acquitted after a trial at Kwun Tong court.

A. Domingo, 27 years old, had been charged with “assault by those in charge of child or young person”, which is punishable with up to 10 years' imprisonment under section 27(1) of the Offences against the Person Ordinance.

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Domingo was found not guilty on Friday (May 23) by Magistrate Pang Leung-ting, who found the prosecution’s evidence insufficient to prove her guilt.

The case dates back to Sept. 23 last year when police filed charges against her after she was reported by her employer.

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The charge accused her of “willfully assault(ing) … girl X in a manner likely to cause the said girl X excessive suffering and injury to her health.”

He offense allegedly took place between 18^th and 20^th of September last year at her employer’s flat at Kai Lung Court on Muk On St. in Ngau Tau Kok.

HK swelters in 36 degree-weather

 

 

The elderly and those who work under the sun are at high risk for heat-strokes

The Very Hot Weather warning was issued across Hong Kong on Thursday, as the mercury climbed to 36 degrees Cheung Chau, and slightly lower in Kowloong City and several parts of the New Territories.

The Hong Kong Observatory raised the warning signal throughout the day, and advised residents to seek shelter amid the sweltering heat that could lead to potentially life-threatening conditions such as a heat stroke.

Those most vulnerable to heat-related conditions are outdoor workers, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions.

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The extreme heat prompted the Labour Department to advise both employers and employees to take extra care and take appropriate measures to prevent heatstroke when working outdoors of places with hot environments.

It also expressed sorrow over the death of a 42-year-old worker who died on Wednesday after fainting at a construction site at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

According to a labour official the worker’s employers had taken heat stress preventive measures and that the woker had been going about his tasks in a shaded area.

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Nevertheless, employers are advised to assess their employees’ risk factors when working under the sun, and take appropriate measures accordingly, like rescheduling work periods, setting up sun shades and providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment.

They should also remind their employees to increase their water intake and take a break whenever necessary.

Amid the rising temperatures Labour has relaunched a subsidy program to help small businesses and labor unions obtain cooling equipment. Through this program, workers can buy at special low price specialized gear including air-conditioned vests and upgraded solar-powered fans for high-risk industries like construction and sanitation.

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Occupational Safety and Health Council Executive Director Yau Man told reporters that authorities have procured approximately 2,000 air-conditioned vests for the subsidy program. 

She urged eligible businesses that wish to avail of the subsidized heat protection gear to submit applications before the July 18 deadline, emphasizing the equipment's proven effectiveness in mitigating heat stress for outdoor workers.

According to the Observatory, an anticyclone has caused very hot weather to sweep across the the coast of Guangdong, including Hong Kong.

Pinay returned to jail for 7 cases arising from theft, using stolen credit cards

 

The building in which theft took place (Google Maps photo)

A 48-year-old jobless Filipina is now in jail to await the outcome of seven criminal cases filed against her at Kowloon City Court, that arose after she allegedly stole a mobile phone, a Rolex watch and a wallet from a Chinese man in a hotel room in Yau Ma Tei.

In a hearing on Wednesday (May 21), Magistrate Tsang Chung-yiu remanded Mylene Navarro in jail after adjourning the case to June 24.

In information filed last Dec. 18, 2024, Yau Ma Tei Police alleged that Navarro took the three items, worth about $96,095.50 and owned by a certain Lau Chun-ho, from in a room in Rainbow City Inn on Pitt St. in Yau Ma Tei on Nov. 23 last year.

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The wallet contained, among other things, five credit cards that would lead her to allegedly commit six “obtaining property by deception” offenses by using them on a one-day shopping spree. These offenses  are punishable under the Theft Ordinance,

Shortly after stealing the wallet, the police alleged, Navarro went to a Circle K store on Jordan Road and charged $1,206 worth of products to Lau’s Standard Chartered Bank Mastercard.

She then went to a Seven-11 store on Bowring Street and ran up a bill for $2,292.50 which she charged to the same credit card.

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Navarro shifted to using Lau’s HSBC Mastercard when she bought $227 worth of items at another Seven-11 shop at the MTR Prince Edward station.

She used the same credit card in buying $204 worth of products at a Seven-11 store on Jordan Road.

Navarro shifted back to using the Standard Chartered credit card in paying $138 for a meal at a McDonald’s restaurant on Yen Chow St. in Sham Shui Po.

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Finally she went shopping for groceries at a Wellcome Store on Lai Chi Kok Road in Mong Kok, running up a bill for $2,214 which she charged to Lau’s American Express card.

By the time she was arrested by police, Navarro had not used the two remaining credit cards in the stolen wallet – a Hang Seng Bank Mastercard and a Hang Seng Card Union Pay card.

Cabinet officials hand in courtesy resignations as ordered by Malacanang

 

Marcos says the election results showed people want change

In a surprise move, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr asked all his Cabinet officials to submit their resignations, in the wake of dismal performance by his senatorial candidates in the recent mid-term elections.

“This is not business as usual… The people have spoken, and they expect results — not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act,” said Marcos, as quoted by the Palace in its release to media.

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“It’s time to realign government with the people’s expectations,” Marcos continued.

The decision comes after only four candidates closely identified with Marcos won seats in the Senate.

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It was a “decisive move to recalibrate his administration following the results of the recent elections” said the Palace. This was in apparent reference to criticisms that the President had been too lax or indecisive in running the government.

Palace press officer said that more precisely, the move is aimed at weeding out the “lazy and corrupt.”

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But pending the appointment of the new Cabinet officials the government will operate as usual, said Castro.

A performance review of all past incumbents would be undertaken and the results will be announced as soon as possible, she added.

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Within hours of the president’s call, 33 of his cabinet officials led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin started handing in their resignations. The rest sent word that they intended to comply with the order.

As of 5pm on Thursday, the following Cabinet-level officials had handed in their resignations:

  

Table with 3 columns and 41 rows. Currently displaying rows 1 to 10.
NAME	POSITION	STATUS
Lucas Bersamin	Executive Secretary	SUBMITTED
Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.	Secretary of Agriculture	SUBMITTED
Sonny Angara	Secretary of Education	SUBMITTED
Ralph Recto	Secretary of Finance	SUBMITTED
Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque	Secretary of Trade and Industry	SUBMITTED
Rex Gatchalian	Secretary of Social Welfare and Development	SUBMITTED
Amenah Pangandaman	Secretary of Budget and Management	TO SUBMIT
Bienvenido Laguesma	Secretary of Labor and Employment	SUBMITTED
Conrado Estrella III	Secretary of Agrarian Reform	SUBMITTED
Jose Acuzar	Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development	SUBMITTED

Table: INQUIRER.netGet the dataCreated with Datawrapper