The SUN HK

CG promises quick action on OFW concerns

Posted on 18 November 2019 No comments

By Daisy CL Mandap

Image may contain: 4 people, including Dolores Balladares Pelaez, people sitting

Congen Tejada, flanked by Consuls Saret and Quintin, listens to Pelaez's briefing on issues

Consul General Raly Tejada has promised to relay to Manila within this week some of the immediate concerns raised by Filipino migrant leaders in Hong Kong during the first consultation meeting he had with them yesterday, Nov 17, at the Consulate.

These include the long-standing issue about scrapping the overseas employment certificate and the non-implementation of mandatory insurance and contribution to PhilHealth, which are set to take effect as early as January next year.

“The Consulate will continue to listen and will make sure Manila understands the gravity of your concerns,” Congen Tejada said. “I feel your pain, I feel your concerns. That’s why I promise that (hopefully I will be here for three years) during my time, we can do something about it.”

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He reiterated a promise to meet regularly with members of the community to discuss their concerns and hopefully come up with solutions.

“This is just the first meeting. This will be a continuing dialogue because this is a community that speaks and listens to each other,” he said.

The meeting was requested by a new coalition of migrant leaders, Rise Against Government Exactions (Rage), in a bid to enlist the Consulate’s help in stopping the forced collection of new fees from overseas Filipino workers.

Image may contain: 9 people, including Eman Villanueva, Alann Cayosa-Mas and Dolores Balladares Pelaez, people smiling, people standing

Congen Tejada with key officers of Rage

These include mandatory SSS membership (which is already being implemented), Philhealth contribution and compulsory insurance for all OFWs, including rehires, which are expected to take effect early next year.

Alann Cayosa Mas, chair of Federation of Luzon Active Groups (Flag) and spokesperson of Rage, clarified that the coalition of 18 migrant alliances is not against OFW membership in any of the government agencies, but “huwag lang gawing mandatory.”

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Dolores Balladares Pelaez, chair of United Filipinos (Migrante) in Hong Kong, said the government promised three years ago to scrap the OEC, but never delivered on that promise.

She also said that not only was mandatory SSS membership implemented without prior consultation with OFW groups in April this year, the annual premium was also jacked up to Php2,400.

“Ang hiling naming ay huwag gawing mandatory at huwag itaas ang premium,” she said.

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Pelaez also disclosed that Migrante International has sought a temporary restraining order against the mandatory SSS contribution, but the case is still pending in court.

As for the forced contribution to Philhealth, she said the plan is to make all OFWs departing from the Philippines to pay three months’ premium of Php7,200 upfront. This is on top of the recruitment fee, training fee, and all other charges imposed on them.

“Bakit kapag may mandatory na singilin, ang OFW ang agad na natatamaan,” she asked. “Milking cow ba tayo?”

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She also complained that no prior consultations were made with OFWs before any of the new fees were imposed, when “madali naman kaming ipatawag.”

Congen Tejada said he fully understood their concern about the lack of consultation, and will bring this up along with the other issues raised.

“Naiintindihan ko ang concern ninyo. The fact that you are here, isang coalition, it must be a big issue.”

Image may contain: 26 people, including VC Robert Quintin, Dolores Balladares Pelaez, Alann Cayosa-Mas, Lisa Soria Mantilla and Virgie Borbon Buen, people smiling

Consulate officials with the Rage leaders

Eman Villanueva, chair of Bayan Hong Kong and Macau, suggested turning the regular Filcom consultation also as a venue for discussing long-standing issues affecting migrants in the city, like the fight for equitable wages and working hours.

Congen Tejada said he hopes to take up those issues during his first meeting with Chief Executive Carrie Lam scheduled for the first week of December.

Joining Congen Tejada at the meeting were Consul Paul Saret, head of assistance to nationals section, and Consul Bob Quintin, head of community relations.

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Filipino teen student tried for wounding school ‘bully’

Posted on 16 November 2019 No comments

By Vir B. Lumicao

The Filipino teenager claimed self-defense during his trial in Eastern Court

A Filipino Form 2 student at Rosary Hill School in Happy Valley has been tried in court on a charge of wounding the face of a mainland Chinese schoolmate with a record of bullying during a dressing room fight in April this year.

Eastern Magistrate Vivian Wong, who presided over the three-day trial of 18-year-old A. J. Delfino, said on Friday, Nov 14, that she was reserving her verdict until Dec 12.

The prosecution presented four witnesses, including the 17-year-old alleged victim. The small and slim Delfino, who came to Hong Kong in July 2017 to join his father, was the lone defense witness.

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The tall and well-built complainant who is in Form 4, told the court Delfino swore at him as he and his friends walked to a bus stop on Stubbs Road from their school on Apr 9.

The complainant said that after he asked Delfino why he swore at him, a brief fight ensued during which the defendant hit him in the mouth.

Two days later, the complainant was at the tuck shop with his friend when he bumped into Delfino. He invited Delfino to a changing room to talk about the incident.

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Once in the room, they had a pushing match and suddenly Delfino pulled out something from his pocket and struck him twice on his left cheek. When the defendant saw the other boy was bleeding, he said “sorry” then ran out of the changing room.

Four other prosecution witnesses including two friends of the complainant also gave their account of what happened.

In his testimony, Delfino said he did not know the complainant and saw him only occasionally in school, as they were not in the same class.

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Asked by the defense lawyer about the bus stop incident, Delfino said he and his Indian friend were on their way to the bus then, and were talking about dirty words in various languages.

When he uttered a Cantonese swear word, the complainant suddenly appeared beside him and asked why he swore at him, but he told the younger boy it was not meant him.

That led to the Apr 9 fistfight near the bus stop. Two days later, he heard from his Indian friend that the other boy and his group wanted to beat him to get even.

Delfino said when they bumped into each other in the tuck shop, the complainant invited him to the changing room but he declined because he had heard about the plan to beat him.

He said he tried to go to the canteen but the Pakistani friend of the other boy put his arm across his shoulder and led him to the changing room. When he tried to leave, two other boys blocked the doorway.

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Delfino said as he sat on a bench, the complainant came and held him on the right side of his neck, pushing him down while hitting the back of his head and face, including his eyes.

Feeling unwell and his eyes blurry, Delfino took a ballpen in his bag’s pocket and swung it left and right “to scare him off but with no intention to hurt him”. When he saw the other boy bleeding, he ran to the discipline office and told the teacher he had hurt somebody.

Both boys were taken to the sick room where they were given first aid before the police were called and the two were taken to Ruttonjee Hospital for treatment.

Delfino was then arrested and charged with wounding but allowed to post bail.

In summing up, the defense lawyer said his client merely defended himself against the complainant, who had a record of bullying other students.

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Owner of rogue recruiter WHT set to be charged in court

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By The SUN

Ebrahim allegedly offered fake jobs in exchange for thousands of dollars in placement fees

The owner of an unlicensed recruitment agency who is accused by dozens of Filipino migrant workers of making them pay thousands of dollars for non-existent jobs in Hong Kong and Macau is set to appear in court on Jan. 31 to face a charge of unfair trade practices.

The name of Lennis Embrahim, owner of WHT Consultant Company, appeared in the Judiciary’s schedule of hearings published earlier today, Nov. 15.

A Filipina domestic worker who the complainants say used to work for Ebrahim appeared in Eastern Court today to face the same charge.

Mary Jane Biscocho, 42, faced two counts of applying a false trade description to a service offered to consumers in connection with the alleged illegal recruitment operation led by Ebrahim.

The charges were read to Biscocho before Magistrate Ivy Chui. No plea was taken and Biscocho was remanded in custody.

Chui told Biscocho to engage the services of a lawyer from the Duty Lawyer Service who could help her apply for bail in the Court of First Instance and represent her in the next hearing.

A report from Customs Department released on Nov.7 said two women were arrested on suspicion of having applied false trade descriptions to employment agency services supplied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

The report did not identify the two women, but the alleged victims told The SUN they were Biscocho and another Filipina staff of Ebrahim named Nympha Lumatac.

It turned out Ebrahim herself was also arrested in the Customs operation.

Ebrahim used to own the employment agency, Vicks Maid Consultant Co., which lost its license in July 2015 for overcharging job seekers and operating in a different address.

Vicks Maid also faced numerous complaints from Filipinas who claimed to have paid as much as $40,000 for non-existent jobs offered to their relatives in a fancy golf course in Shenzhen.

In the latest case, the three reportedly used WHT to entice about 50 Filipinas into paying between $7,000 to $12,000 for such jobs as drivers and gardeners in Hong Kong and Macau.

After being made to wait a long time for their family members to be deployed to their work places as promised, the complainants learned that the jobs they paid for did not exist.

The complainants have also sought help from both the police and the Hong Kong Labour Department’s Employment Agency Administration, which are still conducting investigations.

Nancy (not her real name), one of their alleged victims, said that in her recent chat with Ebrahim, the latter promised to refund her $16,000 down payment this month.

“Last po na naka-chat ko si Lennis, sabi niya ire-refund niya yung perang nai-down ko sa kanya this mid-November. Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin at di ko na siya makontak. Buti naman po sana mahuli na si Lenis,” Nancy said.

A friend of Nancy claimed she was asked by Biscocho and Lumatac to pay a total of $16,000 as down payment for jobs as a waiter for her husband, a helper for her sister, and a factory worker for her brother.

In its press release, the Customs Department reminded traders to comply with requirements of the Trade Description Ordinance and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

Any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer commits an offense punishable with a maximum fine of $500,000 and five years in jail.

Customs urged the public to report any suspected TDO violations to its 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). – with a report by Vir B. Lumicao

Filipina recipient of drug parcel acquitted of trafficking

Posted on 14 November 2019 No comments

by Vir B. Lumicao

Analyn de Leon walked free from the High Court after being acquitted of the drug charge

A Filipina domestic helper who unwittingly accepted an air parcel containing drugs sent by a man from Africa has been acquitted at the High Court on a charge of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

Analyn de Leon, who the prosecution said was a last-minute consignee of a drug parcel sent in April last year by a man from Cotonou, Benin, was set free today, Nov.14, on a unanimous verdict of "not guilty" by the seven-man jury.

Judge Amanda Woodcock of the Court of First Instance immediately ordered the release of De Leon, a 38-year-old mother of two.

The acquittal was a sweet vindication for the Filipina, who maintained her innocence since her arrest on May 4 after accepting the parcel sent to her employers’ flat in Yoho Midtown, Yuen Long, from a Customs officer who posed as a delivery man.

De Leon said she agreed to accept the package at the request of a fellow Filipina domestic helper, Adelaida, who said she would not be in Hong Kong at the time of the delivery. The two met only three months earlier at a volleyball game.

The parcel contained 237 grams of methamphetamine or what is commonly called “ice,” valued at $334,530. It was declared to contain dried plums.

Sample of 'ice' seized by Customs officers in a separate case

The package was originally addressed to one Burnett Mobuka Oguye at a unit in Mirador Mansions, Tsimshatsui. An officer posing as a delivery man tried to deliver the parcel to the address on Apr 24 but staff in the guesthouse said no such person lived there.

The next day a man who said he was Burnett arranged for another delivery that night but cancelled at the last minute.

Later on, a man called Customs and asked that the parcel be delivered to another address and would be received by a woman named Adelaida. But on the date arranged for the delivery, Adelaida was said to have traveled to the Philippines.

After a few days, the sender in Benin sent a message requesting that the package be sent to De Leon instead and gave her employer’s address.

The officer called up De Leon on May 2 and arranged a delivery two days later. After she accepted the parcel, the Filipina was arrested.

Prosecutor Ken Ng said that phone calls, emails and Whatsapp messages found on De Leon’s cell phone indicated she was a last-minute substitute for the original recipient of the parcel.

Consulate rescues 5 stranded Filipino students at Chinese U

Posted on 13 November 2019 No comments

By Daisy CL Mandap

Chinese U has ended classes as it faces another night of siege by the police
(photo from Jason Ng)

Five Filipino students at the Chinese University in Hong Kong were picked up by officers of the Consulate earlier today, Nov. 13, as the campus remained under siege by the police trying to flush out anti-government protesters for the second straight day.

Three of the students, all post-graduate students, were taken to Hong Kong International Airport from where they took their flights to Manila this evening. Two who are undergraduates asked to be taken to a relative’s house in Pokfulam.

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Consul Paul Saret, who led the team that picked up the students from the CUHK campus aboard two vans, said two other Filipino undergraduate students chose to remain in their dormitories on campus on the advice of relatives.

“Sinabihan daw sila na mas safe sila na nasa campus. May kamag-anak din kasi sila sa Hong Kong na puwedeng sumundo sa kanila kung kinakailangan,” said Saret.

Consul Saret

He said Consul General Raly Tejada was the one who gave the order to pick up the students from the Shatin-based campus after hearing about their appeal.

CUHK said in a press statement this evening that all classes on campus for the current semester have ended. The next term will open on Jan. 6 next year.

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The statement said that the decision was made “in view of the escalation of social movements across the territory, the continuous disruption to public transport services, as well as the severe damage done to facilities on campus.”

The university’s student union president, Jacky So, meanwhile, has asked the High Court to issue an injunction to ban police from entering the campus.

CUHK has been at the center of an upsurge of violence that broke out after a student who fell from a carpark in HK University of Science and Technology during a police dispersal operation, died from his injuries on Monday.

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On Tuesday, violent clashes broke out between the police and protesters as they wrestled for control of a bridge in CUHK, from which police claimed students had thrown debris onto the Tolo Harbour Highway below to block traffic.

Mainland students were the first to leave, complaining of harassment from protesters who allegedly pounded on their doors and spray-painted insults on walls. A marine police boat was used to transport them to Shenzhen.

At about the same time, the Filipino students also asked to be fetched from the university, fearing for their safety.

The post-graduate students were reportedly the most affected as their dorms are located near the disputed bridge where police had fired several rounds of tear gas Tuesday night. Protesters retaliated by throwing petrol bombs.

Consul Saret that his team had to skirt around some blocked roads on the way to Shatin to pick up the students. “Mabuti na lang yung dalawang driver natin ay kabisado ang mga daan kaya nakarating kami.”

He assured that as in all Philippines posts abroad, the Consulate has a contingency plan in case of an emergency that puts the safety of Filipino nationals at risk. “We are ready to activate that should it become necessary,” he said.

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