19 people arrested in new anti-illegal work raids

 

Evidence seized from food delivery riders included a bike

A series of anti-illegal work operations conducted across Hong Kong over eight days, from October 2 to 9, resulted in the arrest of 19 people, 13 of them suspected illegal workers.

A series of focused operations that targeted food delivery services in various locations led to the arrest of five suspected illegal workers, all males and non-ethnic Chinese, aged 21 to 59. Four of the five suspects held recognizance forms, meaning they are applying to stop deportations proceedings against them.

Three Hong Kong males were arrested with them on suspicion of aiding and abetting their illegal work as food delivery riders, and conspiring to defraud delivery platforms.

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In other anti-illegal work operations, eight suspected illegal works and three employers were arrested.

The arrested workers comprised seven women and one man, aged 37 to 58. Two of the women were found to possess forged HK identity cards.

Arrested with them were Hong Kong male residents, aged 33 to 44, suspected of hiring the illegal workers.

2 women arrest had fake HK ID cards

Immigration again warned that illegal work is a serious offence in Hong Kong, for which the maximum penalty is imprisonment of two or three years, and a fine of up to $50,000.

Using forged HK identity cards could lead to imprisonment of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of $100,000.

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Employers could be fined a maximum amount of $500,000 and jailed immediately, for up to 10 years.

Anyone who wishes to report illegal work activities may call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, 24-hour Immigration Offences Hotline 2824 1551, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

At least 8 people dead, dozens injured in Davao quake, aftershocks

 

Damage to Manay's hospital  

The Philippines has counted eight people dead, 395 injured and almost half a million people affected as aftershocks, the strongest at magnitude 6.8, continued to rumble through Mindanao today following last Friday’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake that originated 48 kilometers off Manay, Davao Oriental.

The Manay quake followed the 6.9 magnitude quake that originated 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo, Cebu, on Sept. 30 and caused extensive damage mainly to Cebu’s oldest churches, and neighboring provinces, leaving 74 dead and 559 injured.

As hundreds of aftershocks have rolled up and down the archipelago -- originating in west of La Union, Zambales and Batangas in Luzon, as well as mostly in northern Cebu in the Visayas and the Davao region in Mindanao -- at least four volcanoes were reported acting up, although experts said they may not be related.

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Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occ. has emitted ash, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to raise Alert Level 2, while Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon registered 72 volcanic earthquakes, prompting Alert Level 1, along with Mayon and Taal in Albay and Batangas.

Following the Mindanao quakes, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has counted 8,440 persons displaced and sheltered in evacuation centers, while relief supplies such as food packs and temporary shelters had been distributed to some 79,000 people.

It estimated a P100,258,000 cost for 273 damaged government faciilties in Davao and Caraga regions, including 32 road sections and eight bridges.

More earthquake hazards may be expected, Philvocs said.

“Earthquake-induced landslides, rock falls, and other types of mass movement may occur on sloping terrains, specifically in mountainous or hilly areas. Liquefaction, manifested by subsidence, ground fissures, sand boils, and/or lateral spreads, may affect low-lying, water-saturated, and sandy areas near water bodies. Active river channels and coastal areas may be vulnerable to inundation of seawater due to the combination of liquefaction-induced subsidence and changes in sea level due to high tide. Sinkholes may appear in areas with limestone bedrock,” it added.

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Strong earthquakes are not new to Davao Oriental and surrounding areas.

Records show at least six significant earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from M7.1 to M8.3 hit Davao Oriental and nearby provinces between 1885 and 2023, because it is located in one of the most seismically active regions of the country.

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“The most recent damaging earthquakes were the MS7.1 and MS7.5 earthquakes in Manay, Davao Oriental, on 17 May 1992. In both earthquakes, several buildings and infrastructure were damaged in Davao Oriental Province. A tsunami hit the eastern coast of Mindanao as well,” Philvolcs said.

DH jailed 8 months for $140k theft

 

Theft took place in one of the flats here (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina domestic helper has been jailed for eight months after pleading guilty at West Kowloon Court to stealing $140,000 in jewelry and cash from her employer.

Mary Grace Escorido, 44 years old, reported as having no fixed address after she was terminated by her employer, quietly walked into the detention room after Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi handed her the sentence on Friday (Oct. 11).

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Magistrate Cheng chose a starting point of 12 months, saying the theft was a serious breach of her employer’s trust, but gave Escorido a one-third discount for her guilty plea.

Lantau Police charged Escorido last Aug. 29 with stealing one gold necklace, one gold neklace with endant, one gold pendant, five gold bracelets, one ilver necklace with pendant and two diamond rings with a total value of $100,00.

She also admitted stealing $40,000 cash.

The theft took place at the employer’s flat in Caribbean Coast Carmel Cove in Tung Chung, Lantau.

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In a separate case at Kowloon City Court also on Friday, an unemployed Filipino Hong Kong resident was charged with two counts of theft for shoplifting from separate stores on Wu Kwong St. in Hung Hom last June 16.

Rodelio Ledesma, 65 years, was accused of stealing one pack of chicken meat, two packs of sausage and two packs of garlic valued at $211.90 from a Wellcome store.

Basahin ang detalye!

For the second charge, he was accused of stealing two packs of biscuit and one can of cooked food with a total value of $51.90 from a nearby Best Mark 360 shop on the same day.

He was freed on bail of $2,000.

ICC rejects interim release for Duterte

 

The ICC says Duterte is a high flight risk

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected former president Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release, ruling that his detention must continue under the Rome Statue due to high flight risks, obstruction and potential further offences.

The Oct 10 decision was influenced largely by Vice President Sara Duterte’s public remarks and actions, particularly her suggestion that she would “break her father out” of ICC detention and her attempts to discredit the court by alleging collusion and fake witnesses.

VP Duterte’s comments made in August that her father intended to return to Davao City if freed, was also said to contradict his lawyers’ assurance that he would stay in the unnamed host country.

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Apart from this, the ICC said that given the former president’s “political influence, extensive network in the Philippines and continued support” including that of his daughter, increased the possibility that he would abscond if released.

Duterte's supposed frail health is cited as a ground for the interim release application (File)

In response to the decision, Duterte’s lead lawyer Nicholas Kaufman said the defense has already filed an appeal. Surprisingly, Kaufman said this was done “a week ago,” when the decision was published only on Friday.

He also said that if the case was before a domestic court, “there would have been no hesitation to release an 80 year old sick and debilitated man, kept from the public for more than half a year, and for whom unprecedented State guarantees had been provided.”

Kaufman hit out at what he said “civil society activist lawyers” being quoted actively in the media of accusing Duterte’s supporters of judicial trolling and lambasting defence submissions and filing “frivolous” petitions to sanction him.

Separately, the former president’s son, Davao City 1^st District Paulo “Pulong” Duterte has slammed the ICC’s decision on the interim release as a “gross and disgraceful miscarriage of justice” and as “political theater.”

PINDUTIN DITO

Rep Duterte also said in his Facebook post that the Central Intelligence Agency was complicit in what he again described as his father’s kidnapping.

He warned those who took part in the alleged abduction that they will “pay for this crime,” adding that they might just have turned his father into a martyr.

Duterte supporters outside the ICC's detention facility at The Hague

Duterte’s lawyers had asked for his temporary release, citing his age, supposed unstable mental health, and his willingness to remain in a third country that will take him in while the case against him is being heard.

Basahin ang detalye!

But the ICC decided Duterte must continue to remain in detention as he faces charges of multiple murders and attempted murder as crimes against humanity.

The decision was signed by Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera.

 

Police appeal for information on 2 missing Filipinas

 

Photo shows the two together when last seen in Tsuen Wan

The Police issued an appeal Friday for any information about the whereabouts of two Filipinas who went missing in Tsuen Wan in the afternoon of October 4.

The two were identified as Imee Mahilum Pabuaya, aged 24 and Aleli Perez Tibay, 33 years old. Police said they were last seen on Yeung Uk Road.

Police said they are both domestic workers. 

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No details were provided as to their visa status or relationship to each other, although they appeared to have been together when last spotted.

Police said it received a report about Pabuaya missing on Oct 8, while Tibay was reported missing on Oct. 6.

Clearer photo of Pabuaya (left) and Perez

Pabuaya is described as about 1.55 meters tall, 50 kilos in weight, and of medium build. She has a round face, fair complexion, and short brown hair. She was last seen wearing a dark blue denim top, matching denim shorts, and white shoes.

 

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Perez, the older one, is about 1.58 meters tall, also weighs around 50 kilos, but has a slim frame. She also has a round face and fair complexion but with long black hair. She was last spotted wearing a light blue long-sleeved shirt, light blue jeans and white shoes.

Basahin ang detalye!

Anyone with information about their whereabouts may contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Hong Kong Island on 2860 1040 or 9886 0034, or email to rmpu-hki@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

 

Lady drivers, taekwondo enthusiasts heed call for blood donation

 

A dozen happy donors pose for group shot after bloodletting

When you donate blood, you help other people live.

Fired by this thinking, two groups of women migrant workers lined up at the Red Cross Donation Centre in Causeway Bay on October 7, in response to a perennial call by the agency for people in Hong Kong to donate blood.

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It was the second blood donation campaign by the United Philippine Taekwondo Organization Hong Kong (Upto HK) and the Lady Drivers Organiation (LDO), and it won’t be the last, vowed their leader, Mercy Permales.

Lady driver Babes smiles as blood is drawn from her 

Mercy herself has been a regular blood donor, after having a sort of epiphany in December 2022, when she was feeling homesick, and was contemplating on how she could make her life more meaningful.

It was while listening to the Christmas song “We Are The Reason” by Avalon and again seeing the Red Cross appeal for blood donation that everything clicked into place, she said.

“Doon ako nabuhayan ng loob at ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, Yes! This is what I want to do for Christmas. Jesus gave His life to mankind, kaya ako ay magbibigay naman ng dugo to save lives.”

(That was an awakening. I told myself, ‘yes, this is what I want to do for Christmas. Jesus gave up his life to mankind, so I should also give blood to save lives).

On Christmas day itself, Mercy along with friend Marilyn, went to the Red Cross Donation Centre so they could present their gift of life to their fellowmen.

Mercy said she felt even more fulfilled when she received a text message from the Red Cross thanking her for her donation, adding it could help save three lives.

Mercy says there's no greater gift than the gift of life, and love

She decided to share her joy of giving with members of Upto and LDO, who responded by heeding her call to do a group blood donation.

Mercy says she hopes many others, particularly her fellow migrant domestic workers, would also give blood.

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“To those who wish to donate blood, just search for the Red Cross Donation Centre nearest you. They accept walk-in, and are open from 11am until 7pm, no noon break,” she said.

Like it was for her, she said the donation would be even more meaningful if it’s done on Christmas day, which is a statutory holiday for everyone, including migrant workers.

 

 

2 DHs cleared of charges of throwing away dead baby

 

Kowloon City Court

Two domestic helpers charged with concealing the birth of a child by disposing of its dead body in a rubbish bin, have been cleared after prosecutors withdrew the charge against them on October 9.

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R. Sorongon and J. Lorilla, 34 and 36 years old, respectively, appeared in Kowloon City Court where they were originally charged with violating section 48 of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance.

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The court set aside the information filed by the Yau Ma Tai Police on Feb. 24 that Sorongon and Lorilla had wrapped the baby in a diaper before discarding it in the rubbish bin inside a washroom for the handicaped at the Emergency and Accident Room of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei ont Feb. 20.

Overstaying Pinay gets 5-day suspended prison sentence

She was under administrative detention for 37 days

A Filipina who lost her job as a domestic helper four years ago but stayed on in Hong Kong illegally, thus breaching her condition of stay, has received a combined sentence of five days for two counts of overstaying, suspended for 12 months.

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But this does not mean that Prynne Montino, 42 years old, got off lightly after pleading guilty at Shatin Court on Thursday (Oct. 9),.

Before she was brought to court, Montino had been under “administrative detention” by the Immigration Department for 37 days.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong deducted these detention days from the 21-day imprisonment he meted for each of the charges. For the 5 days left, he ordered that Montino not be detained unless she reoffends in the next 12 months.

The first breach of condition of stay charge arose from Montino staying on until he was arrested on March 14, 2022, one year and three months after the two-week deadline for her to leave following the termination of her contract on Jan. 2, 2021.

Basahin ang detalye!

However, she could not be reached when sought again on July 21, 2022, resulting in her being charged with a similar case, in violation of section 41 of the Immigration Ordnance.

The second charge said that she overstayed between July 21, 2022 and Jan. 30, 2024.

During her overstay, Montino applied for non-refoulment, seeking to prevent the Hong Kong government from forcibly sending her back to the Philippines, resulting in her being issued a recognizance form as her identity document.

 

 

 

PCG tells OFWs in HK, come to us if you’re troubled

 

Congen Israel says the PCG will work with The Samaritans in counseling troubled OFWs

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, together with its attached agency, the Migrant Workers Office, have vowed to intensify their effort to reach out to overseas Filipino workers who might be undergoing mental stress, in the wake of two OFW suicides in less than a week.

Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr. said that the PCG and the MWO have spoken with The Samaritans, a group of volunteer professional counselors, on the possibility of collaborating to extend help to OFWs who are distressed.

Congen Israel said they are hoping The Samaritans could reinforce the team of counselors at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration “in providing a lifeline to our kababayan who might just need someone to talk to about their problems that are causing them severe anxiety of depression.”

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He added, “We hope to operationalize a partnership with them (Samaritans) soon.”

The latest reported suicide happened on Oct. 7, when a 31-year-old Filipina was found hanging inside a room at her employer’s luxurious villa at 1 Peak Road. Her relatives told MWO the victim was going through marital problems.

Five days earlier, a 34-year-old Filipina was also reported to have hanged herself in her employer’s flat in Tai Hang. Friends said she had been under severe stress from having to repay a large debt owed by her mother.

OIC Villafuerte talks to newly arrived OFWs during a post-arrival orientation seminar

MWO Officer-in-Charge Antonio Villafuerte affirmed the move to reach out to The Samaritans, a charity group that has a 24-hour hotline which people having suicidal thoughts could call anytime.

He said the group has dedicated Filipino helpline officers who could help greatly in reaching out to more OFWs who might be in trouble.

At the same time, Villafuerte said the MWO will intensify reminders to OFWs that they can approach his office anytime should they have problems.

Basahin ang detalye!

Right now, he said coping with mental health issues is part of the post-arrival orientation seminar provided to newly arrived OFWs. But the DMW and OWWA are also looking at organizing a new mental health campaign with Filipino community leaders.

2 Pinoys admit thefts but remain in jail for burglary

 

The thefts took place in one of these buildings (Google Maps photo)

Two Filipinos each got a suspended sentence at Eastern Court after pleading guilty to stealing two backpacks and offering compensation to the owners.

But Ryan Malonzo and Allevan Arceo could not be released from jail because they still face a burglary case which is set to be elevated to the District Court. They had been detained for four months, along with Roderick Praco, their co-accused.

In a hearing on Wednesday (Oct. 8), Principal Magistrate David Cheung handed Malonzo and Arceo a two-month jail sentence for theft, suspended for 18 months, after taking into account “your guilty plea and willingness to make compensation.”

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But he warned: “Failure to compensate means prison.”

Malonzo, 38 years old and a bartender, admitted stealing a bag that contained a wallet with $1,000 cash, Hong Kong and China identity documents, and four bank cards, all worth a total of $1,400. He promised to repay the owner $1,400 within two weeks.

Arceo, 29 years old and construction worker, pleaded guilty to stealing the other bag that contained an iPhone 13, a Huawei laptop, and cash of 5 renminbi, worth a total of $18,205.36. Since some of the items had been recovered by the owner, the compensation amounted to $10,200.

Basahin ang detalye!

Arceo promised to pay $5,000 within the day and $1,000 in the next five months.

Both thefts took place outside a flat in Wing Wah Mansion on Queen’s Road West in Shek Tong Tsui on March 26.

In the same hearing, their respective duty lawyers said Malonzo, Arceo and Prado had no bail applications for the burglary case.

They are accused of entering a “Green-Kennedy Town” store on Water St. in Sai Ying Pun last March 20 and stealing an iPad worth $3,999.

Magistrate Cheung adjourned the case to Oct. 23 for transfer to the District Court.

 

 

Pinay asylum seeker skips court again due to illness

 

Vargas posted this photo of her passport awhile back, after she overstayed her visa
 

A Filipina who has previously missed court hearings for a charge of overstaying her visa, was again a no -show today at Eastern Court.

But Principal Magistrate David Cheung was quick to excuse Kris Hope Vargas, 33 years old, after noting a letter from the Hospital Authority that she was confined in a hospital.

He set a four-month adjournment, setting a new hearing on Jan. 28 next year.

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Magistrate Cheung did not disclose details about Vargas’ condition, but in earlier hearings her lawyer said she was suffering from asthma.

At another time the court was told that she was being treated for mental illness at Kwai Chung Psychiatric Hospital. 

She was taken there after being reported by relatives in the Philippines as missing. Later, she was found disheveled and walking aimlessly around Tsim Sha Tsui.

The Sun had earlier reported the disappearance of Vargas (https://www.sunwebhk.com/2023/12/family-of-dh-charged-with-overstaying.html).

The court was later told that she had been confined in the hospital from Nov. 28, 2023 to Jan. 28, 2024. (https://www.sunwebhk.com/2023/12/mentally-ill-filipina-found-another.html).

She faces a charge of breach of condition of stay for overstaying, in violation of the Immigration Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

She has been in and out of court since her arrest for money laundering and overstaying in November 2020. Court records showed she should have remained in Hong Kong only until Mar 10, 2020, after her FDH visa was terminated.

At one point her cash bail of $2,000 was forfeited by the court for non-appearance, but she was allowed to post bail again when she reappeared.

She pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in June 2021.

Her other case for overstaying has been adjourned since, as she applied for non-refoulement, or against being deported to the Philippines on account of alleged torture.