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Helper in drug trial says she received parcel for ‘bisexual’ Pinay

Posted on 15 October 2019 No comments

By Vir B. Lumicao

The accused Filipina says she accepted the parcel containing drugs for a 'bisexual' volleyball player

A domestic helper who is being tried for drug trafficking in the High Court said she did not know a DHL parcel that a “bisexual” fellow Filipina had asked her to receive contained 237 grams of methamphetamine valued at $334,530.

Defendant Analyn de Leon took the witness stand on Oct. 14 when she appeared at her trial on a charge of trafficking in a dangerous drug before Judge Remedios D’Almada.

Earlier, Customs officer Lau Tik-yee, gave evidence on the events that led to the arrest of De Leon on May 4 during which he posed as a DHL man to deliver to her a parcel from Benin in Africa that contained the illegal drug.

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The prosecution said De Leon was a last-minute recipient of the drug parcel that was sent to her employer’s address at Yoho Midtown estate in Yuen Long in May last year.

De Leon, on questioning by her counsel Oliver Davies, denied she ever used drugs in Hong Kong or back in the Philippines. She denied having any connections with drug suppliers or syndicates anywhere.

De Leon said she received the parcel at the request of Filipina fellow volleyball player named Adelaida whom she met at a one-day friendly league in Kowloon about three months before the delivery of the parcel.

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She said Adelaida, who she described as a bisexual woman, allegedly said she was expecting a parcel containing a pair of shoes and a garment ordered from an online trader that was meant for another person.

When Davies asked De Leon if she had the chance to inspect the contents of the parcel, she said she did not bother to check because its wrapping had already been opened and it looked like rubbish. She said she didn’t know or think that there was drug in the parcel.

During cross-examination by Prosecutor Ken Ng, De Leon was asked about the long list of voice calls, chats and messages that she had with both Adelaida and “New” on two separate cell phones from Apr 13 to the evening just before the delivery of the parcel.

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Ng asked her who New was, with whom De Leon had received and made calls as well as chatted on Whatsapp and on regular phone line. The defendant said New and Adelaida were one and the same person.

The defendant said Adelaida requested her to receive the parcel on her behalf in the last week of April 2018 because she would be in the Philippines on the expected delivery date.

De Leon said she agreed because her employer knew that she was into online business ordering merchandise from Zalora which she passed on to her friends at a mark-up. She said her employers were also ordering goods from the online store.

She said her orders were usually delivered to her boarding house but this time she had the parcel delivered to her employers’ house.

The trial continues.

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Helpers see LET as key to their teaching ambition

Posted on 14 October 2019 No comments

Aspiring teachers (from left) Lorna Escropulo, Mercedes Tesoro and Marlyn Bautista after the teachers exam.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Nothing beats being a teacher imparting knowledge to young students in her own country. This is according to former school teachers who are now aspiring to return to the classrooms from their current domestic jobs in Hong Kong.

Year after year, this seems to be the general view of those who take the Licensure Examination for Teachers administered annually by the Professional Regulation Commission for Hong Kong-based OFWs.

On Sept 29, about 470 education degree holders sat for the LET at Delia Memorial School-Hip Wo in Kwun Tong, placing their hope in the exam as their way to fulfilling that dream.

Mercedes Tesoro, Gemma Musni and Juliet Pedida, who sat on a park bench to have their late lunch after taking the examination for elementary teachers, said they would return to Philippine classrooms to teach again once they pass and secure a professional license.

Tesoro, 48, a kindergarten teacher for eight years before she came to Hong Kong in 2017, said she was forced by circumstance to come and work here as she could no longer teach in a public school because she didn’t have a professional license.

Since 2015, the Department of Education has required all kindergarten teachers to be board passers, so she was the 28th in her town to lose her job.

Tesoro would not say how many times she took the licensure exam, just “madami na po”, and this year was her second try in Hong Kong. But she expected to pass this year, given the ease with which she finished the General Education component.

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Musni, 38, came here two years ago after teaching for several years also in kindergarten in Pampanga. Like Tesoro, she was hit by the need to pass the board. This was her first time to take the exam and she was looking forward to hurdle it and return to her family.

She said she was forced to work abroad as she could no longer bear to see her children crying everyday, asking for PhP5 for their “baon”, a small amount she could not afford to give when she could no longer teach.

“Mga pinsan may kinakain, ako lang talaga ang walang maibigay. Napakahirap talaga ang loobin ng ina. Nakakaawa,” she said.

Juliet Pedida, a 34-year-old woman from Leyte, came to Hong Kong after graduating from college almost 10 years ago. She said she envied neighbors who had OFW family members. Now she is ready to go home and teach depending on the results of the exam.

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So is Evelyn Ison, 46, a farmer’s wife who has been in Hong Kong for nearly five years. The BS Elementary Education graduate said she has no teaching experience.

Her determination to return home and teach is fueled by her desire to be with her two children, a 6-year-old boy and a girl, 4.

For Lorna Escropulo, 43, this was her third time to sit for the exam, hoping to take advantage of the government’s SPIMS program, or Sa Pinas Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir, that offers teaching jobs for OFWs who pass the LET.

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Another domestic worker who dreams of returning to the classroom is 38-year-old Marlyn Bautista from Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, who will be teaching high school students if she hurdles this year’s exam. Before coming to Hong Kong in 2010, she taught in kindergarten for two years.

The desire to go home and teach also consumes Pema Tema, a former private elementary teacher for several years before she decided to go abroad and work as a domestic helper.

In the first place, Tepan said her leaving the teaching job was not primarily due to the meager salary but, she admits, because of her insecurities and professional rivalry with her husband, who is also a teacher.

This time, if she passes the LET, she promises to go back to teaching.

Early beneficiaries of SPIMS, a joint program of the Department of Education and Culture, Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine Normal University, have successfully reintegrated into the local workforce by returning to the teaching job.

One of them, Grace Shiela Padua, is now happily teaching and looking after her two young sons in Camarines Sur, after saying goodbye to her domestic work in Hong Kong in October 2016. Hundreds more in this city are expected to follow in her footsteps.

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How PNP chief got linked to ninja cops

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Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde

By Leo A. Deocadiz

Barely a month before his retirement as chief of the Philippine National Police, Oscar Albayalde was having difficulty shaking off accusations he covered up for his erring men when he was provincial commander in Pampanga in 2013, on a case close to the government’s heart: drugs. Or, to follow the questioning in several Senate hearings, the recycling and resale of hundreds of millions of pesos worth of drugs that these so-called ninja cops seized in buy-bust operations and raids.

The pressure became so unbearable that, by Oct. 14 -- just 20 days before his retirement == he announced after a Monday flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame that he would step down.

“After careful thought and deliberation, I have come to the decision to relinquish my post as Chief PNP effective today and go on a non-duty status. I have submitted my letter of intent to Secretary Año which he accepted and favorably endorsed to the President,” he said.

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“Since I am retiring compulsory on November 8, 2019, this will pave the way for the appointment of my replacement should the President so desires,” he added.
The resignation culminated more than a month of hearing at the Senate Blue Ribbon Commitee in which his former superiors testified that he interceded six years ago for his men, who were then facing dismissal.

In the Senate and subsequent media interviews, Albayalde dismissed the negative cimment on him as a defamation campaign, and blamed this on politics within PNP, and saying he was being ganged up upon. He even tried invoking the name of President Rodrigo Duterte, saying, “I enjoin everyone to move on now that the President has spoken,” after Duterte declared that he needed “clear proof” that Albayalde committed wrongdoing, and ordered a separate investigation.

But recent Senate hearings were unearthing such “proof”.

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In their testimonies before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, three of his upperclassmen at the Philippine Military Academy accused him not only of a cover-up, but also of benefiting from his men’s misdeeds.

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who in 2013 was a major general and chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Albayalde tried to influence former Central Luzon police chief and now Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency head Dir. Gen. Aaron Aquino into not implementing the dismissal of 13 police officers.

Aquino confirmed this after initially denying it, saying that Albayalde called him up to inquire if he was investigating. “But he also added during the same (phone call) request, and I quote: ‘Sir, baka pwede mo huwag mo munang i-implement ang order. Then I asked him: ‘Bakit, Oca?,’ where he answered, ‘Kasi mga tao ko sila’,” Aquino added.

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The most damaging testimony, so far, came from retired Brig. Gen. Rudy Lacadin, CIDG deputy chief at that time, who quoted Albayalde sa telling him: “Kaunti lang naman ang napunta sa akin dyan.”

Sen. Dick Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, concluded that they had enough evidence to file a case against Albayalde.

Aquino confirmed this after initially denying it, saying that Albayalde called him up to inquire if he was investigating. “But he also added during the same (phone call) request, and I quote: ‘Sir, baka pwede mo huwag mo munang i-implement ang order. Then I asked him: ‘Bakit, Oca?’ where he answered, ‘Kasi mga tao ko sila’,” Aquino added.

The most damaging testimony, so far, came from retired Brig. Gen. Rudy Lacadin, CIDG deputy chief at that time, who quoted Albayalde sa telling him: “Kaunti lang naman ang napunta sa akin dyan.”

He denied the accusations, at one time saying he could not have possibly approached them in that way because they were more senior.

But Sen. Dick Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, concluded that they had enough evidence to file a case against Albayalde.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Sen. Frank Drilon, a former justice secretary, said Albayalde can be charged with neglect of duty at the least, and graft and corruption at the most. “The evidence is (so) strong that if they cannot mount a sufficient defense, then they will be convicted on the basis of what we heard,” he added.

The saga began at 10 am of Nov. 28, 2013, when 12 policemen raided a house in Mexico, Pampanga. They seized 36.68 kilos of metamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and a P100,000 marked money.

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Their report, however, officially declared that the raid happened at 4:30 pm, in coordination with PDEA agents, as required by law. And instead of arresting the Chinese drug lord Johnson Lee, they picked up drug dealer Ding Wenkun.

Albayalde, who was then acting police chief of Pampanga, wrote a memo praising his men for the raid and recommending them, and himself, for promotion.

What attracted top PNP officials in Camp Crame to the case was that members of the team were soon seen driving around with new vehicles. The PNP Chief then, General Alan Purisima, asked Magalong to investigate.

Magalong’s investigation revealed that the actual amount of drugs was 200 kilos, and not 36.68 kilos. And drug lord Johnson Lee was indeed arrested, but was released when he paid the cops P50 million.

Magalong’s findings led to the filing of charges against the 12 plus their chief of intelligence. Albayalde was stripped of his command. The 13 were recommended for dismissal.

That was when Albayalde, who by then had become regional police chief for National Capital Region, started calling Aquino, who was Central Luzon police chief, and Lacadin. These calls hounded him until they ended his career.

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The good, the bad and the ugly

Posted on 11 October 2019 No comments

The author gets to meet only two of her three children.on her graduation.

By Christine Diones Dia

In our daily lives we always get into situations that are either, good, bad or ugly. It seems these experiences will always be part of our life.

But life is even more difficult for us who are inside prison, and even more so because we are in a foreign land.

Some people say prison is the worst place, but for me “worst’ is a big word, and is relative. It could be used depending on how we adapt to a new situation or environment.

In life we always have choices, and every choice we make there will always be consequences.

Here in prison, life could be easier if you reform yourself and strive to gain extra knowledge by studying. If you study and you excel you will have a chance to attend the graduation ceremony where you will be joined by your family. That is the reward that you will get for being “good.”

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But if you choose to just sit down and wait for your release you will gain nothing but gray hair because of too much thinking. This is a “bad” thing.

These are only a few examples of the “good, bad and ugly” things about prison life. But whether we’re inside or outside if we don’t think and make bad choices then the outcome will be worse.

A correctional institute helps prisoners to correct their wrongdoings and reform and rebuild themselves and bring back their dignity. We offenders are given a chance to study so we can use the knowledge that we gained once we are released. We should not waste this chance.

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I consider myself fortunate because I was able to study and attend the graduation ceremony. Here I want to share my experience when my family was allowed to see me during graduation.

I’ve been in prison for four years, and now at last I will see my three children. The first day I had mixed emotions. I was so happy, grateful and nervous at the same time because I really didn’t know how I would feel to see them face to face again.

It was very painful at first because I could not touch and hug them because of the glass window that separated us. But my daughter was very positive and hopeful. She climbed up and kissed me through the glass window. No walls, hindrance or obstacles could stop us from expressing our love for each other. We talked, we cried, we laughed. I felt complete once again because I was with my three children.

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When the 30 minutes allowed for the visit ended and I saw them leave, I almost died. It was so painful that I could not go with them because I needed to stay in prison.

Graduation time came, the most awaited time in prison, and once again, fate tested us. My eldest son was not allowed to go inside and join us during the ceremony even when I begged because there is a strict prison policy that allows only a maximum of two family members to join us during the graduation.

It should have been a perfect moment if all three of my children were allowed in, but no matter how I begged, my eldest son was not allowed in. That tore my heart, truly one of the times when life could be so bad.

Then the moment of truth came. Before the ceremony each prisoner was allowed to be joined by their two family members for a photo op. As I entered the hall I saw my daughter and son standing and waiting for me. The moment I heard them call me “Mommy” my heart started pounding so fast. I ran to them to hug and kiss them. Truly, nothing compares to a mother’s love. Having them in my arms again after so many years was indescribable. My children and I felt like the world had stopped turning and we were the only people in that room until Madam called us because the ceremony was about to start. We slowly returned to reality but I was so overwhelmed by happiness.

The program was a bit boring because everything was said in Cantonese even if the graduates, family members and guests were mostly non-Chinese. That, to me, was an ugly time.

But the production numbers were quite good, and some chosen inmates proved very entertaining when they sang and danced to the theme song of the movie, Lalaland. After the ceremony came the much awaited moment when we could be with our loved ones while taking refreshments.

We had exactly one hour to catch up, which was not really enough considering how long we had been apart, but I was grateful anyway because I got to spend time with my children, which was priceless. That was what I’d call a good moment.

My children and I didn’t eat, and we spent much of the time hugging and kissing. We used up the time talking non-stop about their life away from me, and how they excelled in school. I have always been proud of how they have done well in all aspects of their life.

Then our time was up. It hurt to say goodbye to them. As soon as I stood up I turned around and walked away, not wanting to see them cry because I knew it would break my heart. I ran fast from the room lest I changed my mind and go back to kiss and hug them all over again.

Life is not perfect. We are all bound to make mistakes, but those mistakes should not destroy us. We could regain our dignity if we repent and correct our wrongdoings. We are in a dangerous world, we should be smart enough when making tough decisions in life. Those decisions could be life-changing, and our choices could lead us to something that’s either good, bad or ugly.

It is because of one such bad decision that I am here in prison, far from my family and loved ones, and having to bear so many ugly moments. But the good part is, I have learned from my mistakes.
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This article was sent to us by Christine Diones Dia, a Filipina who has been in jail for four years after being arrested for trafficking drugs into Hong Kong. She writes about the pain of seeing her three children for the first time since she was put behind bars. This happened only because she finished a prison course in March, and was allowed to be joined during graduation by two of her children. Her eldest had to remain outside because prison rules allow only a maximum of two family members to join a graduating inmate. It was a bittersweet moment that underscored for Christine the severity and consequence of the offense that she committed.

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