FinTech Alliance PH to conduct finlit seminar for OFWs

 

Registration is required for face-to-face participation

FinTech Alliance PH, the Philippines’ largest digital industry association, is set to conduct a Financial Literary and Digital Adoption Program for overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong on November 2,  at 2pm at the OWWA Cares Hall at the OFW Global Center on the 18^th floor of United Centre building in Admiralty.

The seminar aims to equip OFWs in Hong Kong with the knowledge and expertise in managing their finances, with the help of professional and trusted experts in the field of financial services.

Those interested to join may register by scanning the QR code in the attached poster, or watch the training live on the Consulate’s official Facebook page: Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong. 

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FinTech Alliance PH, the first organization of its kind in Asia, comprises more than 100 corporate members, including the leading digital retail businesses in the country like GCash, Maya, GoTyme, Grab, 7Eleven, and banks like BPI and Landbank.

PINDUTIN DITO

Together they account for more than 95% of the country’s digital retail financial transaction volume.

The group has spearheaded the establishment of an industry-led Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics, which could pave the way for it to operate as a self-regulating body.

Basahin ang detalye!

FinTech Alliance PH will join the Hong Kong FinTech Week to be held from November 3-7 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Singapore FinTech Festival from November 12-14 at the Singapore Expo.

 

Another Pinay gets 6-month jail term for money laundering

 

Another Filipina has been jailed for six months after her bank account was used in laundering money that came from crime.

Cherel Elle, 38 years old, pleaded guilty last Tuesday (Oct. 4) at Kwun Tong Court to dealing in property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense, in violation of the Organized ad Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Magistrate Eric Yao handed her the sentence after deducting three months from her sentence in return for her guilty plea.

Information filed by Kwun Tong Police said $363,442.58 went in and out of her Bank of China account between Aug. 1, 2022 and Jan. 23, 2023.

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It said she dealt with the money “knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that (the) property… in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represented any person’s proceeds of an indictable crime…”

PINDUTIN DITO

Elle’s conviction comes a day after Lea Callo, 32 years old and a Filipina domestic helper, was also sentenced at Kwun Tong Court to six months in jail for allowing the use of her bank account in money laundering.

Basahin ang detalye!

The charge arose from the $937,789.50 in crime proceeds that flowed in and out of her Bank of China account between May 24 and Oct. 26, 2022.

Filipina charged for stealing 5 watches worth $1.01M

 

Entrance of Deerhill Park, where the alleged theft happened (Wikimedia photo)

A Filipina domestic helper appeared in Fan Ling magistracy Friday, charged with stealing four Rolex watches from her employer’s house worth a total of $1 million plus a third branded Citizen,  valued at $10,000.

Jeanny V. Llarenas, 51 years old, is accused of stealing the watches from the detached house in Deerhill Bay, a luxury residential complex in Tai Po, between June 1 and October 15 this year, when the alleged theft was discovered.

The first charge is for the theft of two Rolex watches, each valued at $250,000; and the second is for the theft of two more Rolex watches with the same value, as well as a Citizen watch worth $10,000.

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No plea was taken and Llarenas was returned to jail until the next hearing of the case on December 12.

Media reports said Llarenas, mistakenly described earlier as an Indonesian, was arrested at around 9:50pm on Wednesday, Oct. 15, after a 35-year-old resident of the Deerhill house reported to the police that two luxury watches were missing.

Subsequent investigation revealed the loss of two more Rolex watches, plus a high-value Citizen watch. They were allegedly found inside her bag, about to be pawned.

More charges may follow, as Llarenas is still being investigated for 12 items of gold jewelry that were also reported as lost.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Basahin ang detalye!

All the items were said to be owned by Wong Tong-yiu.

Police who came to investigate subsequently arrested the defendant on suspicion of theft, under Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

She was charged in court after two days of investigation.

Employer of Indonesian illegal worker jailed 2 months

 

Both employer and illegal worker were sentenced at Shatin Court

A local grocery shop owner was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on Friday after being found guilty of hiring an Indonesian illegal worker.

The Indonesian worker aged 51 years old was jailed for 15 months previously

The unnamed employer described as a male Hong Kong resident aged 57, was charged at Shatin Court or being an employer of a person who was not lawfully employable as he did not take adequate steps to ascertain the visa status of the worker.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was convicted after trial.

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He was arrested on March 13 by Immigration officers who raided his grocery store and arrested him for hiring the Indonesian, who turned out to be a recognizance paper holder applying for asylum, as a shop assistant.

In a statement, Immigration reminded the public that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Under the Immigration Ordinance the maximum penalty for an employer of an illegal worker, for example, an illegal immigrant, a person subject to deportation or overstayer, is liable to prosecution and could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $500,000. 

The High Court has also ruled that the employer should be jailed immediately.

 

Basahin ang detalye!

According to the sentencing guidelines, employers take all practicable steps to determine whether a jobseeker is lawfully employable.

Apart from inspecting the applicant’s identity card, the employers must also make enquiries about the person and ensure that the answers would not cast reasonable doubt as to the lawful employability of the person.

Failure to do this would not be accepted as a defence on the employer’s behalf

It is also an offence for the employer not to inspect the job seeker’s valid passport or travel document if no permanent HK ID card could be presented

To report suspected illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, 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.

2 Filipinas who went missing set to go home; share ordeal

 

Aleli and Imee tells MWO officers they survived on wild fruits in the forest

The two Filipina domestic workers who were found by police at about 10:30pm Thursday in Shatin after missing for 12 days. are set to go home next week after their respective employers terminated their employment contracts.

The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) said 24-year-old Imee M. Pabuaya will leave on October 20 as her employer gave notice of termination when she was reported missing on October 6. Aleli P. Tibay, 33, will go home on October 22 as her employer terminated their contract two days after, or on October 8.

Under Hong Kong employment laws, foreign domestic workers must leave within 14 days after the termination of their work contracts, unless this was done under exceptional circumstances, like when they were abused, or their employer resettles in another country.

MWO officers who fetched them from the Shatin Police Station last night said the two were dressed in the same clothes they were seen wearing in a surveillance video in Tsuen Wan in the afternoon of October 4 when they were went missing, except for Aleli who had changed into a white shirt after reportedly getting wet.

Both will be returning home virtually empty-handed. Imee will be paid by her employer for the three days that she had worked before missing, while Aleli will not receive anything.

As the police said after both were found last night, the two were in good health.

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MWO officers who took them to a shelter and gave them immediate counseling said the two had told them that they got lost in the forest in Tsuen Wan.

“Naligo lang daw po sila sa ilog at ang kinain nila ay bunga ng baging,” “ said one MWO officer assisting them. (They swam in the river and survived on fruits of overhanging vines).

At least one netizen said in a Facebook post that she saw the two at the Fu Yang Shang barbecue site, about 1 km away from the Tsuen Wan MTR station. Another unconfirmed report said they were spotted at the Lei Muk Shue Shopping Center nearby.

Basahin ang detalye!

Hiking posts online say the walk from Lei Muk Shue to Shatin called the ‘Needle Hill Hike” is a scenic but challenging one, bypassing a part of the rugged Maclehose Trail. The distance totals about 8 km and could be covered by seasoned hikers for three hours, but not by inexperienced ones who could get easily lost in the trail.

Imee and Aleli claim they could not use their mobile phones when they realized they got lost because one got wet in the water, while the other’s battery drained as they used it as a flashlight.

“Sinabi nila hindi daw sila nakababa ng bundok hanggang kagabi,” said the MWO officer (They said they managed to get off the mountains only last night).

When asked about the reported sighting of them in Lei Muk Shue a day earlier, they said they they would have welcomed getting away from the mountains as they experienced extreme difficulty there.

“Nasabi nila na akala nila hindi na sila makakalabas ng bundok.” (They also said they thought they would never be able to get off the mountain).

When fetched at the police station, the two reportedly had three pomelos with them, which they said they had plucked from a tree in the mountains.

MWO said the two declined to be interviewed, saying they are not ready, but agreed to share their story to the officers assisting them.

Secretary Cacdac holds press briefing to report that the OFWs have been found

In a  press conference held earlier today, Secretary Hans Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers assured reporters that the two OFWs are “both in good condition, safe and sound.”

He added they are currently receiving psychological counseling from MWO and will undergo a medical check-up within the day.

MWO will help them get their belongings back from their employers’ respective houses, and will help in their repatriation.

“Salamat sa ating mga team sa Hong Kong at sa local na pamahalaan doon. Dahil sa kanilang mabilis na pagtugon, ligtas na ngayon ang ating mga kababayan,” said Cacdac. (Thanks to our team in HK and to the local government there. Because of their immediate action, our OFWs are now safe).

MWO records show Imee, the younger of the two, had been in Hong Kong for only nine months, while Aleli had worked here since 2017.

2 missing Filipinas found safe in Shatin

 

It's still unclear why Aleli and Imee decided to disappear

The two Filipina domestic helpers who had been reported missing for 12 days have been found unharmed, various reports quoting police said.

Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr. confirmed the reports in a text message to The SUN. 

The two, Imee Mahilum Pabuaya, 24 and Aleli Perez Tibay, 33, were reportedly found by police at a shopping mall on Sui Wo Road in Fo Tan at about 10pm on Thursday.

They were said to be well and safe, and police said there was nothing suspicious in their disappearance.

No statement was issued as to why the two who were reported to be in a relationship, had left their respective employers without word, or why they did not tell  friends and family members what they were planning to do.

If their employers decided to terminate their respective contracts as soon as they disappeared on October 4, they will only have until tomorrow to remain in Hong Kong under the 14-day rule for FDHs.

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The police first posted a bulletin about their disappearance shortly after receiving separate missing-person reports on them, on Oct 6 and 8.

A surveillance camera captured them walking on Yeung Uk Road in Tsuen Wan at about 4:30pm on Oct.4 just before they disappeared. 

This prompted speculation that they had gotten lost while hiking, though they did not look dressed for the activity.

Basahin ang detalye!

Police launched a massive search for them on the hiking trails around Tsuen Wan, but decided to give it up Wednesday after receiving reports that they had been spotted in a nearby town.

Prior to this, the Philippine Consulate had received information from the police that the two were still in Hong Kong, as there were no Immigration records of them departing the city.

The Consulate advised netizens against speculating on their disappearance, particularly those who had initially said they must have gone on to a third country to work, particularly Poland.

There were also reports that the two were beset with debt problems, which could have prompted them to run away.

According to Consulate records, Imee had worked in Hong Kong for only nine months, while Aleli had been here since 2017.

 

 

 

 

DC to hear Pinay’s theft, 6-count fraud case

 

District Court (Google Maps photo)

An unemployed Filipina has found that she will be taken to the District Court over charges of stealing a wallet, a Rolex watch and mobile phone from a local man inside a hotel; then using his credit cards to buy groceries from convenience stores and a snack.

Magistrate Tsang Hing-tung today formalized the transfer of the case of Mylene Navarro, 48, from the Kowloon City Court after the prosecutor said the documents required were ready for the next hearing at District Court on Nov 4.

He advised her to apply for legal aid and do so right away so she could prepare for her case.

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In the first charge Navarro is accused of stealing a mobile phone, a Rolex watch and a wallet from a Chinese man in a hotel room in Yau Ma Tei.

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

The wallet contained, among other things, five credit cards that would lead her to allegedly commit six  fraud offenses by using them on a one-day shopping spree. 

Fraud is punishable with 14 years in prison under section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.

Basahin ang detalye!

The six fraud charges were originally labelled as “obtaining property by deception” for which section 17 of the Theft Ordinance prescribes a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

But apart from allegedly stealing the wallet, the police said Navarro went to a Seven-11 store on Bowring Street and ran up a bill for $2,292.50 which she paid by using a credit card issued by the Standard Chartered bank to Lau.

She then allegedly used Lau’s credit card issued by Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. in buying $204 worth of products at a Seven-11 store on Jordan Road.

Navarro then allegedly went to a Circle K store on Jordan Road and charged $1,204 worth of products to Lau’s Standard Chartered Bank Mastercard.

She again allegedly used the credit card in paying $138 for a meal at a McDonald’s restaurant on Yen Chow St. in Sham Shui Po.

Navarro allegedly used Lau’s HSBC Mastercard a fifth time when she bought $227 worth of items at another Seven-11 shop at the MTR Prince Edward station.

Finally she allegedly bought 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.

Filipinos in HK form anti-corruption coalition

 

Bayan HK & Macau's Eman Villanueva asks for feedback from attendees

Expose and hold them accountable - now!

This was the shared sentiment of some 30 Filipinos from across various sectors who met at the KUC Space in Jordan on Oct 11 to express outrage over the extensive corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects unveiled in the Philippines recently.

The group, representing migrant workers, students, educators, journalists, and church people, agreed to form a coalition named Filipinos Against Corruption and Impunity HK (FilAction HK) through which they will organize community-wide discussions and other activities that will reflect their indignation.

Among those being planned is a mass action on November 30, Bonifacio Day, to coincide with another nationwide protest in the Philippines to call for the immediate prosecution of the legislators, contractors and other people behind the massive corruption.

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The Philippines’ Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said at a Senate Budget hearing last month that the average economic losses from corruption in flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reached up to P118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025 alone.

But this appears to be only the tip of the iceberg as data recently published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism showed the questionable projects, many of them “ghost” or were never carried out, started as early as 2016, during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

A big number of those who came were post-graduate students at HK universities

Those who attended the inaugural meeting of FilAction HK initiated by United Filipinos in Hong Kong expressed disgust that such anomalies were allowed to happen, and that until now, the names of all those behind the graft-ridden projects have never been divulged to the public.

Members agreed to call for the immediate publication of the names of the “proponents” – or legislators who supported the anomalous projects - apart from the contractors, and get them sued in court.

All those who are found guilty of stealing public funds through ghost, substandard or overpriced government projects must be immediately jailed and banned from ever holding public office again.

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Private individuals who colluded with them must be stripped of their professional licenses, like the project engineers.

On top of serving their penalty, all the culprits must be ordered to return the money they had stolen.

In addition, the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of all serving public officials must be made public; and if necessary, even their bank accounts.

Also in the interest of transparency and justice, the proceedings of the Independent Committee for Infrastructure (ICI) should be made public.

Members of various religious groups also expressed outrage at the widespread corruption

To prevent or minimize corruption in future, the group wants to push for the implementation of the Anti-Dynasty Law which is already provided in the Philippine Constitution, but has never been enforced.

Ahead of the planned mass action, the group plans to network with other organizations so more wide-ranging discussions on the pertinent issues could be held, with a bigger audience taking part.

 

 

 

FDHs targeted in Immigration’s latest anti-illegal work raids

 

All the workers arrested were all women working in restaurants or guesthouses

A total of 16 people were arrested in anti-illegal work operations conducted by the Immigration Department that targeted foreign domestic helpers working mainly in restaurants or guesthouses.

Arrested over three days, from Oct. 12 to 14, were ten suspected illegal workers aged 26 to 43, and six employers aged 41 to 63.

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The 10 workers were all women. Five are current helpers, three were former helpers who had overstayed their visas, one visitor, and one imported worker.

Immigration said most of the suspected illegal workers were found working at restaurants or guesthouses doing dishwashing, cleaning and other odd jobs.

The employers were locals comprising five men and one woman.

An immigration officer displays the items seized during the operations

Immigration reminded the public that FDHs should only perform domestic duties for their contractual employer as listed in the "Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties" attached to the employment 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," the Immigration statement said.

Basahin ang detalye!

Anyone who violates a condition of stay in their visas, including FDHs and tourists who are not allowed to take up any work in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, are guilty of an offence.

The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment.

If the illegal worker is an illegal immigrant, a person subject to a removal or deportation order os is a overstayer, face a maximum penalty of three years in jail, and fine of up to $50,000.

Employers who hired a person who is not lawfully employable could be jailed for up to 10 years, and fined a maximum of $500,000. Under sentencing guidelines imposed by the High Court, an immediate custodial sentence is prescribed for an offending employer.

The director, manager, secretary, partner or any officer of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability.

The sentencing guidelines require all employers to take “all practicable steps” to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. This means that apart from inspecting a job applicant’s identity card, the employer is also duty-bound to make enquiries to ensure the lawful employability of the person.

If the jobseeker does not have a permanent HK identity card the employer is required to inspect the applicant’s valid travel document to ensure compliance with the law. Failure to do this would make the employer liable to pay a maximum fine of $150,000 and could be jailed for up to a year.

Immigration warned employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers, saying it will continue “to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.”

 

Student, 16, sent to District Court for child rape, pornography

 

The case will now be heard at District Court

A 16-year-old Filipino student charged before the Eastern Court with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and possession of child pornography will answer those charges before the District Court starting Oct. 28.

Principal Magistrate David Cheung told Liam Urtula he was elevating the case and advised him that he had the right to seek bail and was entitled to apply for a free defense lawyer from Legal Aid.

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Urtula is accused of raping an 11-year-old girl inside a flat on 44-46 Bonham Road in Sheung Wan last Feb. 14, for which he was charged with “unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 years,” in violation of section 123 of the Crimes Ordinance.

That ordinance states: “A man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.”

Basahin ang detalye!

He was also charged with violating section 3(3) of the Prevention of Child Pornography Ordinance after 13 photographs containing child pornography was found stored in his mobile phone between Feb. 8 and March 28 this year.

Under this ordinance, possession of any child pornography is punishable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for five years or, on summary conviction, to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.

2 missing Filipinas still in HK, says MWO

 

Aleli and Imee are shown in a photo shared on Facebook

The Migrant Workers Office has said that the two Filipina domestic helpers who went missing on October 4 are still in Hong Kong, according to records from the SAR’s Immigration Department.

This was according to MWO Officer-in-charge Antonio Villafuerte who told The SUN that the Consulate’s police attaché had received the information from the Hong Kong Police upon a request.

On being given this information, Villafuerte said the Consulate had proceeded to request Immigration to put the two Filipinas on the lookout list.

Pindutin para sa detalye

The information puts to rest persistent, though unverified reports that 24-year-old Imee M. Pabuaya and 33-year-old Aleli P. Tibay, had left Hong Kong, and are already in another country abroad, particularly Poland. The two are said to be in a relationship.

“Mabuti nga sana kung nakaalis sila dahil it  means they’re safe, but this is not the case,” said Villafuerte, who added the Consulate as well as the Department of Migrant Workers in the Philippines remain concerned about the two’s whereabouts and safety.

He said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac had contacted him directly after learning about the missing migrant workers.

Villafuerte confirmed that the two had valid employment visas when they were reported missing, and that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration had been in touch with their employers, as well as their family members.

Imee had been in Hong Kong for just nine months, as only those aged 24 years old and above are allowed to work abroad as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs); while Aleli had worked here since 2017 (edited).

Surveillance photo from Oct 4 showed the two did not seem dressed for hiking

Villafuerte also doused speculation that the two had gotten lost while hiking, saying the photo taken by a surveillance camera in the afternoon of Oct 4 while they were standing on Yeung Uk Road in Tsuen Wan indicated they were not dressed for this activity.

Imee was shown wearing a dark blue denim top, matching denim shorts, and white shoes while Aleli was wearing a light blue long-sleeved shirt, light blue jeans and white shoes.

The police had also reportedly called off searching for the two Filipinas along the Lung Min hiking trail in Tsuen Wan, which started on Saturday afternoon, amid concerns they had lost their way and were stranded in the area.

The force is now said to be assessing their next step in searching for the two.

“We remain concerned about their safety and are coordinating with the police as they continue to investigate the case,” said Villafuerte.

He reiterated an earlier advice from the Philippine Consulate about posting unverified information about the two as these could derail the efforts to locate them.