Filipino DH held for alleged $520k theft

 

The alleged theft happened at this luxurious residential complex

A Filipino domestic helper has been arrested on suspicion of stealing around $520,000 in cash from her employer at a luxury flat in Happy Valley.

Police said on Wednesday that the employer, a 59-year-old Mainland woman living at The Leighton Hill on Broadwood Road, called up at around 9:30am that day to report the loss of $500,000 and RMB17,000 cash, and suspected her helper had stolen it.

No other details of the alleged theft, including when the money was stolen, was immediately available.

Officers who went to investigate the report subsequently arrested the Filipina helper on suspicion of theft.

She is still being held for further questioning by Wan Chai district investigation team.

 

Tulfo proposes special claims court for OFWs

 

Senator Raffy Tulfo says OFWs will be served better by a separate court for their labor cases (File)

Senator Raffy Tulfo who heads the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers has proposed the establishment of a Migrant Workers Relations Commission (MWRC) that will handle all labour disputes involving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Tulfo recently filed Senate Bill No 1489 or the proposed Migrant Workers Relations Commission Act, which seeks to address the protracted process of resolving labor disputes by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), including those involving OFWs.

Under the resolution, the MWRC will be a separate quasi-judicial body under the Department of Migrant Workers that will assume all labor claims and other disputes involving OFWs from the NLRC, including illegal termination, unpaid wages and various contract disputes.

DETAILS HERE

Tulfo said the NLRC processes more than 30,000 cases each year, which makes OFW cases especially susceptible to delays and backlogs.

“Although the NLRC is a well-established and vital organization, its responsibility extends to both local and overseas workers, resulting in a substantial increase in caseloads. Reports indicate that this large volume of cases has caused considerable delays, adversely affecting OFWs in their pursuit of justice,” he added.

Under the proposed bill, the MWRC will have jurisdiction over all cases involving Filipino migrant workers—both land-based and sea-based—to the exclusion of all other courts, tribunals, or quasi-judicial bodies.

Basahin ang detalye!

It will function under the DMW to promote a more coherent and consistent government policy on overseas employment.

Tulfo said the creation of the MWRC strengthens the government’s commitment to protect and promote the welfare of Filipino migrant workers.

“Panahon na para magkaroon ng sariling korte ang ating mga OFW para sa mabilis, abot-kaya, at makataong hustisya!,” he said

(“It is time a separate court is set up for our OFWs to ensure a fast, reliable and humane justice system).

Anti-illegal work drive targeting DHs nets 21

 

Immigration officers escort DHs they arrested

Immigration Department operations targeting foreign domestic helpers who breach their conditions of stay, netted 14 persons while performing dish washing, cleaning and other odd jobs in territory-wide raids conducted from November 4 to 11.

Also arrested for employing them were seven persons -- two men and five women aged 30 to 74 -- who were managing the establishments where the illegal workers were found.

Of those arested for illegal work, five persons were current helpers, four were overstaying ex-helpers, two were holders of recognizance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment in Hong Kong, one was an imported worker, one was a visitor and one was an illegal immigrant.

DETAILS HERE

Immigration said the operations, codenamed "Swordfish", involved raids on 47 target locations including restaurants, retail shops, barbecue site, activity venues, employment agencies, and commercial building units.

"A helper should only perform domestic duties for the employer as listed in the "Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties" attached to the Contract. The helper should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person," an ImmD spokesman said.

The spokesman also said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him/her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

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The spokesman warned that, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment.

The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offense to employ people who are not lawfully employable.

Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable (such as an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land) has been increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offenses.

“The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence,” the spokesman said.

 

DMW set to look for bigger, more ‘caring’ shelter for distressed OFWs in Hong Kong

 

Secretary Cacdac (left) led Philippine officials in welcoming HK Labor Secretary Chris Sun
(in blue suit) to the OFW Global Centre in Admiralty

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac has disclosed plans to set up a new and bigger shelter for Filipino migrant workers in distress  in Hong Kong early next year, saying the current halfway-home in Kennedy Town has outlived its usefulness.

Secretary Cacdac bared the plan during a meeting with Filipino community leaders at Shangri-la Hotel on Sunday, and again during a one-on-one interview with The SUN on Monday.

“We want to move out from the existing one and provide one that can be a vibrant and dynamic place for our OFW shelter-stayers,” said Cacdac.

DETAILS HERE

The current shelter which used to be run by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (precursor of the current Migrant Workers Office) is a 652 sq.-foot, three-bedroom shelter with 10 beds located in a building on Belcher’s Street in Kennedy Town.

Before this, the Hong Kong government allowed POLO to operate as a shelter, a rent-free, a disused post office facility in Cheung Sha Wan which was four times the size of the Kennedy Town flat.

Cacdac said the DMW intends to raise the standard of accommodation at the new shelter – “not ostentatious, but something that is clean, up to standard, spacious, and can house a whole array of activities and events” for the OFWs who are staying there.

Basahin ang detalye!

He said he found out that tenants at the shelter are made to go the OFW Global Centre in Admiralty if they needed to undergo training. This will no longer be necessary if a bigger place is found for them, he added.

Asked if he had a time frame in mind for setting up the new shelter, Cacdac said it should be done by the first quarter of next year.

He also said funding could be easily made available for this purpose, since the DMW is earning enough from contract verifications. This means that the department will not have to depend on an additional budget allocation from the national government or Congress to get this done.

Secretary Sun wrote in his blog how impressed he was with the OFW Global Centre

Cacdac also expressed satisfaction with the way things are being run at the OFW Global Centre in Admiralty which he said impressed even Hong Kong Labor Secretary Chris Sun when he paid a visit to the place last Sunday.

Despite the high cost of renting the unit which occupies the entire 18^th floor of United Centre building, Cacdac said it was money well spent, and assured that the DMW will be able to sustain the cost of maintaining it for many years.

Prominent lawyer charged with sexual assault, intimidation of Indonesian DH

 

Lam is expected to enter a plea after the case was elevated to the District Court

A prominent human rights lawyer in Hong Kong appeared in Kowloon City court earlier today, Monday, charged with sexual assault and intimidation of an Indonesian domestic worker.

Kenneth Lam, 57, was not asked to enter a plea and was released on bail of $5,000 until the next hearing of the case, which has been elevated to the District Court.

Lam faces three counts of indecent assault and one count of criminal intimidation. The alleged offences took place at a flat in Tak Shing Terrace, Jordan, between July 2 and 9 this year.

Lam is an outspoken personal injury lawyer who became prominent for urging the Law Society to take a more proactive stance on issues seen to affect Hong Kong’s rule of law, including Beijing’s passing of the national security law in 2020.

 

Pinay gets 3 months in jail for 6-year overstay

Eastern Court

 A Filipina who overstayed for six years after arriving in Hong Kong as a tourist in 2018, was jailed today for three months after pleading guilty at Eastern Court.

Marlyn Dagondon, 41 years old, was convicted by Magistrate Ko Wai-hung after admitting that she remained in Hong Kong without a valid visa from Nov. 8, 2018 until her arrest on August 13, 2024, in violation of section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance.

Visitors are allowed to remain in Hong Kong for 14 days, after which they are liable for breach of condition of stay unless they secure an extension of their visa. 

DETAILS HERE

According to the complaint filed by police on Sept. 11, 2024, Dagondon was found to have overstayed her visa while being investigated at the Western Police Station on Des Voeux Road west on Aug 13,

Meanwhile, in another case at Eastern Court, Filipina domestic helper Aileen Apigo, 46 years old, was left to answer three charges of selling unsafe consumer products while her Pakistani co-defendant was cleared of four charges as part of a bind-over agreement.

Apio and Shah Syed Saheer Mehmood, 46 years old, were arrested after they were found to be selling  at Shah’s store 96 pieces of Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Avocado & Aloevera; 157 pieces of Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream Oil Free and 99 pieces of Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream.

Basahin ang detalye!

Shah agreed to be bound over for 24 months and was charged $500 for court costs. In turn, the Customs and Excise Department agreed to withdraw charges against him of supplying unsafe consumer goods, supplying goods that did not comply with the requirement that they have bilingual warning, possessing for sale unsafe consumer goods, and possessing for sale consumer goods that did not comply with bilingual warning and caution requirement.

Apigo pleaded not guilty to two charges of selling the unsafe products, and an additional charge of breach of condition of stay for allegedly working as a sales lady in Shah’s store, which is prohibited for one who holds a domestic worker’s visa.

Magistrate Ko released her on bail of $5,000 until the next hearing on Dec. 12, but reserved a trial date of Jan. 14-15 next year.

Super Typhoon Uwan slams into Aurora

 

A massive storm surge in flood-stricken Catanduanes ahead of Uwan's landfall

Super Typhoon Fung-wong (Uwan in the Philippines) slammed into the town of Dinalungan in the northeastern Philippine province of Aurora Sunday night, after unleashing torrential rain in many parts of the country.

At least two people have died in the initial onslaught of Uwan, which picked up sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) after it entered the country Saturday night. More than a million people had to evacuated form flood- and landslide-prone areas.

DETAILS HERE

Officials said a villager drowned in flash floods in the eastern province of Catanduanes while another was killed by debris in the neighboring Samar province.

Over in Hong Kong, a group of Philippine government officials including Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac and House Representatives Bryan Revilla and Johanne Bautista, have been left stranded because of cancelled flights into Manila.

Reps Revilla and Bautista flank Secretary Cacdac at a Filcom meeting in HK on Sunday

All said they have rebooked their flights to early Tuesday, when Uwan’s fierce onslaught is expected to have subsided.

The biggest typhoon to threaten the Philippines in years is estimated to cover two-thirds of the country as it came with a 1,118-mile-wide rain and wind band. Early reports showed provinces in the north like Bulacan and in far south like Lanao del Sur have been hit by flooding from heavy rains brought by Uwan.

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The super typhoon entered the country just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino in the Philippines) left at least 224 people dead in central provinces, particularly in Cebu, before heading out to Vietnam where at least five were  killed.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has declared a state of emergency throughout the country due to the devastation wrought by Tino and the expected calamity from Uwan.

Uwan brings heavy rain again to flood-prone Bulacan (MDRRMO photo)

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has warned the public to be on alert for possible floods, landslides and storm surges.

But despite repeated warnings, local officials say residents in flood-prone areas refused to evacuate on Saturday. Reports came in of 14 people being trapped on the roof of a submerged house in Catanduanes, and a family of five being rescued from a house whose roof had been ripped off by strong winds.

PINDUTIN DITO

PINDUTIN DITO

The Office of Civil Defense has warned that more than 30 million people across the country could be exposed to dangers posed by the super typhoon.

Typhoon signals have been raised across many parts of the country including the National Capital Region, which resulted in many schools and most government offices being shut on Monday and Tuesday, when Uwan is expected to linger.

Floods also hit Tanaka in Lanao del Sur

Authorities warned that storm surges of more than 3 meters or about 10 feet, could occur along the coasts of more than 20 provinces and regions, including Metro Manila.

Basahin ang detalye!

At least 325 domestic and 61 international flights, both inbound and outbound, have been cancelled over the weekend and Monday.

OFWs urged to plan a business for when they go home for good

 

Participants in the consultation pose with Secretary Cacdac 

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac today urged OFWs to plan on putting up a business while still working abroad to take advantage of various programs offered by the government to improve their chances of success.

Encouraging OFWs to go into business is among various efforts of the Department of Migrant Workers’  Reintegration program to provide OFWs a smooth transition when they return to the Philippines. 

“We will all go back to our country,” he said during a consultation with Filipino community leaders in Hong Kong at the Island Shangri-la Hotel.

DETAILS HERE

Entrepreneurship is one of the reintegration strategies adopted by DMW to enable OFWs to easily transition to life in the Philippines when they go home for good.

The Department of Trade and Industry, for example, has been connecting small businesses to SM malls where they are offered small booths to sell their products through product fairs.

The Department of Agriculture, on the other hand, welcomes small businesses under its Kadiwa Store program, which buys farmers’ produce directly to bring down the cost of food to consumers, either as suppliers or as operators of Kadiwa stores in their communities.

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The Department of Tourism also has a program that can help owners of properties in potential tourist areas by helping them turn these into tourist-grade accommodations, to be sold worldwide through the AirB&B platform, he said.

In addition, he said, the Pag-IBIG Fund has a special housing program, the Expanded 4PH Program, offering lower-cost houses and a more affordable repayment scheme for housing loans it extends to OFWs.

PINDUTIN DITO

To inspire OFWs to seriously think of going into business, DMW has launched the Reintegration One-Stop Shop, a website that features the programs that OFWs can take advantage of as well as OFWs who have since turned into entrepreneurs (click here to go to the page: https://dmw.gov.ph/reintegration).

A highlight of this campaign is the LIKHA series of business plan competitions to women (LIKHAng Kababaihan), seafarers (LIKHAng Marino) and land-based OFWs around the world ((LIKHAng Global) which all offer a prize of P500,000 to the winner as seed capital.

Basahin ang detalye!

These competitions encourage OFWs to generate business ideas, examine their feasibility and study ways to make them profitable. This way, even if they do not win in the competitions, they get insights that inspire them to aspire for business.

“What is important is they have plans,” Cacdac said.

No more OEC and in-person contract verification, says DMW Sec Cacdac

 

Red carpet, not red tape for OFWs, vows DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac

In line with the Philippine government’s thrust of providing “red-carpet” treatment to overseas Filipino workers, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac announced on Saturday a series of measures meant to ease their burden in dealing with government agencies.

“Hindi red tape kundi red carpet ang dapat ibigay sa mga OFWs,” Cacdac said at the formal launching of the Alagang OWWA Serbisyo Caravan” in Hong Kong.

DETAILS HERE

In line with his thrust, he said the overseas employment certificate (OEC), the exit pass needed by all OFWs departing the Philippines, has already been integrated into the eTravel pass, which is required of all Filipinos leaving the country.

All that an OFW needs to do to secure the OFW Travel Pass is to log on to the eGovPH app and look for the Department of Migrant Workers page (under NGAs) and provide full personal and employment details.

“Kailangan pa rin ninyong magpalista sa DMW kasi kailangan pa rin naming malaman kung nasaan na kayo, kung ano ang kasalukuyang trabaho ninyo, sweldo, posisyon, etc. Pati location ninyo, kailangan din naming malaman,” he said.

(You still need to enlist with DMW because we need to know where you are, what your present job is, salary, position, etc. We also need to know your present location).

After enrolment with DMW and providing flight details, the OFW will be able to secure the OFW Pass.

A good number of OFWs attended the Saturday event

Cacdac also said that starting January next year, all contract verifications with the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong will be conducted online, eliminating the current practice of presenting the contract personally, and sometimes lining up for hours to get it verified.

He said online verification was pilot-tested recently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the result was some Php22 million saved by OFWs there so far. This was based on an estimate of about Php2,000 spent on travel, food and other expenses by each OFW who submits a contract in person at the MWO.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

“Starting in January next year, ia-appl na ito sa Hong Kong and we expect foot traffic to be cut by 60%,” Cacdac said.

That will mean that the MWO could be used more for providing entertainment, training and other services for OFWs, he added.

Cacdac also said that the government is also bent on improving the welfare and protection of OFWs by providing them with legal, medical and financial assistance, whatever their visa status is.

Basahin ang detalye!

“Documented or undocumented, basta OFW tutulungan namin (as long as they are OFWs we will help them),” he promised.

Such medical help is extended even to their immediate family members who can avail of free treatment at the OFW Hospital in Pampanga and medical services at the OWWA clinic in Pasay City.

“Basta sabihin ninyo kung kailangan ninyo ng medical help.” (Just tell us if you need medical help).

Cacdac also spoke of upskilling programs for OFWs, like the plan by Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) to continue providing them with free online technical and vocational training, and by Ched (Commission on Higher Education) to give credit to their work experience towards earning a college degree.

Cacdac is in Hong Kong for two days, during which he is scheduled to meet with Labor Secretary Chris Sun and leaders of the Filipino community.

Rep Bryan Revilla is introduced by OWWA Admin PY Caunan

Also present at the launch to give support to DMW and OWWA were Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr., Administrator PY Caunan, and Agimat Rep. Bryan Revilla (eldest son of former Senator Bong Revilla and head of the House Committee on Migrant Workers) and Rep. Johanne Bautista.

 

 

Gov’t agencies offer services in OWWA Caravan in HK

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac and OWWA Administrator PY Caunan
lead balloon-popping to launch the 'Alagang OWWA' service caravan

The Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration today launched its “Alagang OWWA Serbisyong may Puso Wellness and Membership Caravan” in Hong Kong with a balloon-popping opening ceremony at its OFW Global Center at Admiralty.

At the heart of the activity is the effort of the Department of Migrant Workers to offer under one roof, the services of various Philippine government agencies.

“It is important for DMW that we bring to you not red tape but red carpet,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said at the opening ceremonies.

DETAILS HERE

Hong Kong is the 12th place where the Caravan was held. And although it was officially launched here today, it was the actually the second time for it to be held in the city. The first was in June, when the OFW Global Centre was officially opened.

OWWA administrator P.Y. Cuanan said the services include the OWWA E-card enrollment, whose staff will continue to be augmented so that they could issue E-cards to 800 OWWA members daily until the end of the year.

The E-cards entitle OWWA members to discounts from 30 partner estblishments such as airlines, clinics, drug stores, cafes, remittance centers, and door-to-door companies.

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In addition, health checkups will be held, and a discounted products and services will be displayed by E-card partner establishments.

“All these services are for you,” Caunan said.

Among the other agencies providing their services in the caravan are:

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Department of Migrant Workers for contract verification and other services

Department of Foregn Affairs for passport renewal and other consular services.

Social Security System for membership services.

Pag-IBIG Fund for membership services.

Basahin ang detalye!

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for membership services.

Department of Social Welfare and Development for OFWs’ concerns over their families back home.

Professional Regulation Commission, to licensing of teachers and other professionals.

Public Attorney’s Office, for legal assistance.

OFBank (Overseas Filipino Bank) for opening of accounts in the Philippines' first digital-only, branchless government bank.

Philippine Statistics Authority for birth certificate and other documents.

Land Transportation Office for driving license renewal.

The Caravan will continue until tomorrow, Sunday, though the eCard enrollment will last until the end of the month.

Pag-IBIG Fund Member Services Officer Raymond Ramos and managers Albert Falgui
and Carina Ramirez personally attend to Pag-IBIG members  

Pinay DH cleared of assault

 

Joson expresses joy from acquittal 

A Filipina domestic helper accused of assault on a local she had a dispute with at a school bus stop near a Tseung Kwan O development where they lived, was acquitted today after trial at Kwun Tong Court.

Maylene Joson, 45 years old, smiled broadly to her employer and duty lawyer after Magistrate Lau Suk-han cleared her of violating Common Law, which is punishable under section 40 of the Offenses against the Person Ordinance.

The ruling capped Joson’s 10-month legal battle which began last Jan. 3 when Tseung Kwan O police filed the common assault charge against her, to which she pleaded not guilty. 

It ended with her walking free from court after recovering her $1,000 cash bail.

DETAILS HERE

Magistrate Lau noted that the testimony of the supposed victim, Tsoi Chun-lai, was in conflict with the CCTV footage of the incident, which took place on Nov. 21 last year at a school bus stop near where they both lived -- Corinthia by the Sea in Tseung Kwan O.

For example, she noted that the video did not show Joson hitting Tsoi as the latter alleged. Instead, the video showed Tsoi stepping forward first, then pointing a finger at Joson and saying, “You are just a domestic helper. You should know your position.”

The video gave credence to Joson’s testimony that she was pointing back at Tsoi, shouting at her to shut up, when the latter suddenly turned and her fingertip touched Lau’s face accidentally. Joson had testified that it was an accident, that she had no intent to hurt Tsoi and was willing to apologize.

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Magistrate Lau also noted inconsistencies in Tsoi’s testimony, such as when she claimed she arrived at the school bus stop ahead of Joson, when the video showed Joson already in line, chatting with a friend, when she arrived with her child.

She noted that Tsoi claimed her picture was taken a day later, to explain why it did not show bruises on her face. In fact, the photo was taken on the day of the incident.

“I would not rule out that PW1 tailored her testimony to convict the defendant,” Magistrate Lau concluded.

Basahin ang detalye!

The dispute began in the morning of Nov. 20, or the day before, when Joson put the schoolbag of her three-year-old ward on the stairs of the school bus so it would not drive off as her employer, who was carrying her daughter down from their flat, was running late.

Joson’s employer testified that she heard Tsoi scolding Joson for this, but advised the Filipina to just come back home with her to end the dispute. She later received text messages from Tsoi, to whom she apologized.

The next morning, when Joson brought her ward and Tsoi took her child to the school bus stop, they met again and the dispute that led to the criminal charges erupted. The employer said she was not present during the incident.