HK-bound Filipinos recruited for scam hub stopped at NAIA

 

Alert Philippine immigration officers noticed the victims' questionable documents

Five Filipinos bound for Hong Kong but whose ultimate destination was a scam hub in Cambodia were intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila last February 15 by alert Immigration officers.

This was revealed on Feb 19 by Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado as 12 victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment operations in Myanmar safely arrived at NAIA through the joint efforts of Philippine officials in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a statement, Viado said the five Filipinos intercepted at NAIA – four males and one female - individually presented themselves as tourists bound for Hong Kong aboard a Cebu Pacific flight.

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

They initially claimed to be working in popular restaurants or businesses in the Philippines, and entered the immigration area separately, and pretended not to know each other. However, officers noted their suspicious documents and referred them for secondary inspection.

On further questioning the five admitted that on arrival in Hong Kong, they were to transfer to a flight to Cambodia, where they will be employed by a business process outsourcing (BPO) company. 

Officers told them they would likely end up being held hostage by syndicates running online gambling or other illegal activities in the country. 

PINDUTIN DITO

Viado warned the public against scam hubs that recruit Filipinos for supposed call center jobs in various Asian countries through social media platforms, particularly Facebook.

The syndicates behind these operations entice job seekers with attractive salary offers and other benefits. But once they reach their destinations they are coerced into taking part in online fraud schemes, including cryptocurrency scams, under exploitative and abusive conditions.

“We urge Filipinos to thoroughly verify overseas job offers, especially those that promise unusually high salaries,” Viado emphasized. 

“Many of these so-called customer service roles are actually covers for large-scale scam networks that take advantage of unsuspecting workers.”

The 12 scam hub victims were met at NAIA by DMW staff

This was what happened exactly to the 12 Filipinos who returned to the Philippines after being victimized by the scam syndicates. 

They were recruited through Facebook by a Filipino who offered them jobs as customer sales representatives in Myanmar.  But once they got there, they were physically abused, beaten with PVC sticks, and subjected to electric shocks. 

When they asked to leave, their employer demanded US$15,000 in compensation. As they had no money to pay the victims fled the scam hub and were helped by the Myanmar military.

Reports later said they were among 250 people held at the Myanmar scam center and released at the Thai border last week.

Basahin ang detalye!

The Filipinos were put on board a Cebu Pacific flight to Manila through the joint efforts of the Philippine Embassy, Office of the Police Attache and Migrant Workers Office in Bangkok.

They are now receiving help from the Department of Migrant Workers.

PRESS FOR DETAILS

Cap on $2 subsidized fare eyed

 

Prototype of JoyYou card from MTR Corporation

The government appears to have found a way to curb the huge public spending on the $2 fare scheme for the elderly and qualified people with total disability.

Various media reports say that a daily usage cap of eight times could be implemented.

In addition, the $2 subsidy could be availed of if the fare is $10 or less. Above this, an 80 percent discount would be implemented, so that an $11 fare would result in the relevant passenger paying $2.2 and so on.

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

This is intended to stop some passengers using the discount to take long-haul routes for short rides.

The news comes before Financial Secretary Paul Chan is set to deliver his 2025-202 budget next Wednesday.

He had earlier hinted that the discounted fare benefit could be adjusted, as the annual expenditure for the program had reached almost $4 billion in the last fiscal year. This marked a 200 percent increase compared with the $1.3 billion spent in the 2019-20 fiscal year.

PINDUTIN DITO

Some legislators have suggested reverting to the old policy of giving the discount only to those aged 65 and above, but the government did not seem to favor this.

Some non-government organizations and community groups totally opposed the idea of cutting back on the discount, saying it was a small benefit given to elderly residents.

The use of the $2 fare discount was limited to residents using only the JoyYou card as of August 25 last year. 

Basahin ang detalye!

Previously, anyone using the Octopus elderly card, or those aged 65 and above using a personalized Octopus card, could avail of the benefit when they took most public transportation, including the MTR and buses.

PRESS FOR DETAILS

Raids against illegal workers net 12

 

Immigration officers escort those arrested.

The latest anti-illegal worker operations mounted all over Hong Kong by the Immigration Department (ImmD) resulted in 12 persons being arrested.

Eight of those arrested were suspected illegal workers, three were suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor.

The arests came during a series of territory-wide operations mounted by ImmD codenamed "Twilight", and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Windsand" on February 18 to 20.

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

ImmD Task Force officers raided nine target locations including premises under renovation and restaurants.

They arrested eight workers, five of them men and three, aged 27 to 53. Among them, one woman was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

Two men and one woman, aged 44 to 61, were arrested for employing the illegal workers. One man aged 63, was also charged with aiding and abetting a person who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN DITO

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or 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."

The spokesman warned, "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 in any business.

“Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment."

Basahin ang detalye!

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 such an employer 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.

PRESS FOR DETAILS

Filipino in court after arrest over fake US$10 billion bank documents

 

HSBC branch where incident was reported (Google Maps photo)  

A Filipino arrested for possessing fake bank documents worth US$10 billion was returned to jail today, after his application for bail was rejected at Eastern Court.

Ramon Revillosa Jr., 68 yeas old, and who claimed to be a businessman, was arrested after he presented the bank documents at Pedder Street branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. in Central on Feb. 10.

After denying him bail, Principal Magistrate Don So scheduled his next bail hearing date for Feb. 27.

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

Magistrate So also rejected his request, presented to the court by a duty lawyer, for access to his belongings so he could contact his relatives in the Philippines to raise funds for his bail.

At the same time, So adjourned the hearing of the case about Revillosa’s alleged violation of section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance, to March 27.

A complaint filed by the Central Police District on Feb. 13 alleges that Revillosa presented three documents last Feb. 10 “with the intention  of inducing the staff” of HSBC “to accept them as genuine and by reason of accepting them, to do or not to do some act to his own or any other peson’s pejudice.”

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

Suspicous bank staff called police after examining the documents.

Police  alleged that he presented a bank capabilty letter, a guarantee letter and a certificate of balance, all issued by HSBC, “which were and which he believed to be false….”

Basahin ang detalye!

Earlier reports said Revillosa was arrested at the bank with a 38-year-old Filipino woman who claimed to be a lawyer, a Malaysian man, a Taiwanese man and a woman who used a Hong Kong and Macau Travel Permit to enter Hong Kong.

But the charge sheet only named Revillosa and not the others he was reportedly with when he was arrested.

The offence he is charged with carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.

PRESS FOR DETAILS

Victims of sexual harassment urged to step forward after FDW's court victory

 

EOC prosecuted the case in the District Court

The Equal Opportunities Commission has welcomed the District Court’s ruling in favor of a former domestic worker who sued her employer for sexual harassment, and said more victims should speak up and take action.

In a press statement issued yesterday, EOC chairperson Linda Lam said: “This court ruling sends a strong reminder to all employers that sexual harassment against employees, including foreign domestic workers, during their employment is unlawful and will lead to serious legal consequences.”

“Eliminating sexual harassment has always been a top priority for the EOC. We hope that this ruling will encourage more victims of workplace sexual harassment to come forward and seek redress for such unlawful acts.”

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

The court ruling on Feb. 14 found Lam Yui-sang, 63, guilty of creating a “hostile and threatening” workplace for Indonesian helper Sri Wahyuni by demanding sex and consenting to getting pregnant by him shortly after she started work in February 2022.

Lam was ordered to pay damages totaling $182,387 to Wahyuni, broken down as follows: $60,000 in emotional damages, $10,000 in punitive damages, and $112,387.30 for loss of income. Lam was also told to pay costs.

The court heard that Lam, who lived in a 2-bedroom flat in Kwai Chung with Wahyuni, threatened to send the helper back to Indonesia if she did not agree to his demands.

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

Wahyuni refused to give in to his demands and resigned after 17 days, but not after secretly recording Lam’s repeated harassment after he sniffed her hair a couple of times each time she walked out of the bathroom.

In one such recording Lam said: “Who says domestic helpers were not up for sex service?”

In another, he said: “You should have expected to have sex with me as you came to work for me.”

Basahin ang detalye!

Surprisingly, the police dismissed a complaint she filed in April 2022, saying there was a lack of evidence.

Wahyun then took her case to the EOC, accusing Lam of violating the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (SDO).

Under the SDO, which covers workplaces, sexual harassment refers to any unwelcome sexual advance to another person or unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which a reasonable person, having regards to all the circumstances, would anticipate that the other person would be offended, humiliated and intimidated.”

EOC helped prosecute the case on behalf of the claimant, and provided her with in-house lawyers to act as her legal representatives in court.

Various groups supporting the cause of FDWs also hailed the decision, saying it should give courage to those who are under similar circumstances to seek relief.

Cynthia Abdon Tellez, managing director and founder of Mission for Migrant Workers, said it is often difficult for sexually harassed or abused FDWs to speak out due to fear of losing their jobs, or being subjected to victim blaming.

It is also difficult for the victim to gather enough evidence that can be used in proving their claim. And even if cases were reported to the EOC, the offender is often given the chance to settle out of court.

Thus, she said it was commendable that Wahyuni had the courage and the foresight to collect convincing evidence against her abuser.

She said Wahyuni gave hope to many other migrant workers who suffer the same fate, partly because of Immigration’s policy that mandates them to live with their employers, even if as in this case, the employer is male and lives by himself.

PRESS FOR DETAILS

Consumer Council warns against medical test malpractices

 

File photo from Freepik

The Consumer Council has warned against malpractices in health test laboratories, such as medical conditions being exaggerated by their staff to increase sales.

The council issued the warning after receiving received complaints, “such as inaccurate gynecological tests due to staff’s misadvice that the tests could be performed any time even during menstruation; inconsistent breast ultrasound results from 2 centres raising concerns about report accuracy; and staff suspected of exaggerating health conditions to upsell extra test items, and rejecting the complainant’s cancellation request afterwards.”

It urged the sector to “make serious improvements to safeguard consumer confidence and right to be informed.”

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

In its latest issue of CHOICE, the council “urges the industry to bear in mind that medical examinations are professional services that must adhere to high ethical and professional standards, with an obligation to provide consumers with clear and accurate test results and analyses. Exploiting inaccurate results and diagnoses, or exaggerating issues to boost sales is highly questionable.”

It cited cases which ended with the laboratories making refunds after the council intervened.

In the first case, the complainant purchased an ovarian examination plan from Health Check Centre A for $980 that included the Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) test, which is regarded as an indicator of ovarian function, and the CA125 blood test for ovarian cancer markers.

Basahin ang detalye!

“Before making the purchase, she specifically inquired whether she should avoid her menstrual period for the test. The staff assured her that it was not necessary, so she scheduled the tests during her menstruation. Upon reviewing her report, the staff pointed out that her AMH level was only about one-third of the normal range for her age, and that her CA125 level was significantly higher than normal. Therefore, the staff recommended her to perform immediate additional testing for a more thorough checkup, warning that she could face future health risks if she did not proceed,” the council said.

“Due to the staff’s poor attitude and suspected scaremongering, the complainant chose not to purchase any additional tests on that day. Instead, she immediately arranged to consult her family doctor, who informed her that such test should not be conducted during menstruation, as this could lead to elevated results. The family doctor also pointed out that the centre had used an incorrectly high AMH reference level for her age, and that her AMH level was actually normal,” it added.

In the second case, the complainant spent $7,800 on gynecological examination services at Health Check Centre B, which included multiple tests such as a breast ultrasound and cancer marker screenings for women.

“As the ultrasound report revealed 8 hypoechoic nodules, the largest measuring 5.7cm in diameter, the staff recommended the complainant to undergo further testing,” the council said. Instead, the complainant had a second breast ultrasound at another center, which showed only three similar nodules, with the largest measuring 3.4cm in diameter.

“Noting the significant discrepancy between the two reports, the complainant suspected that Health Check Centre B might have exploited consumers’ health concerns to sell additional test items. Consequently, she sought assistance from the Council and requested a refund,” the council said.

In the third case, the complainant received a basic check-up worth $500 at Health Check Centre C, which included a liver ultrasound.

“Following the scan, he was informed that he had 2 liver cysts (also known as hepatic cysts) and was advised to undergo further cancer marker tests. As he hesitated, the staff reassured him that the results would be consistent regardless of where the tests were conducted, and offered him a 50% discount for being over 60 years old. Consumed by anxiety and panic, the complainant paid $800 on the spot for a liver cancer test,” the council said.

“Soon afterwards, he consulted a doctor and learned that liver cysts, which are fluid-filled lesions, typically only require regular monitoring and are rarely cancerous. Thinking that the staff of Health Check Centre C had intentionally misled him, he sought to cancel the additionally purchased cancer test. However, the Centre refused his request, stating that the blood samples had already been sent to the laboratory,” it added.

“The primary purpose of routine health checks is to detect potential health issues at an early stage and address them promptly. Inaccurate examination reports not only compromise consumers’ rights to be informed about their health condition, but can also postpone necessary medical intervention, consequently impacting their health.

The council gave consumers the following advice when selecting a health check plan:

- Before undergoing any health check, it is recommended to consult with a doctor for an informed evaluation and guidance on selecting the appropriate tests for specific needs. This can prevent unnecessary or invasive testing procedures, saving both time and money, while also reducing unwarranted distress;

- When selecting checkup items, make sure to note whether the tests would be conducted by a doctor or a healthcare practitioner. After purchase, retain all receipts and examination reports as evidence for any future claims;

- Test results may occasionally yield “false positives” or “false negatives”. Therefore, it is important to seek a doctor’s interpretation of health check or laboratory reports, so as to incorporate clinical diagnosis and comprehensive evaluation to recommend the appropriate follow-up, treatment or referral.

PRESS FOR DETAILS

24 people arrested in crackdown on illegal food couriers

Immigration officers show off the papers they seized from the alleged illegal operation

An operation that lasted more than a month has enabled Immigration Department officers to arrest 24 people suspected of being behind the hiring of illegal workers for food delivery service across Hong Kong.

The operation started on Jan 2 until yesterday, Feb 18, when Immigration officers disclosed details of the operation at a news conference.

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

Those arrested comprised 14 suspected illegal workers, all but one recognizance paper holders, or those resisting deportation and are prohibited from taking up any work. They are all non-Chinese males, aged 21 to 54.

Arrested along with them were 10 Hong Kong residents, eight men and two women, aged 17 to 41. They are suspected of engaging in a conspiracy to defraud delivery platforms by selling or renting their food delivery courier accounts to the illegal workers.

Some of those arrested during the operation are led away by operatives

Immigration warned that anyone who violates a condition of stay imposed on him or her while in Hong Kong commits an offence.

A person subject to a removal or deportation order, an overstayer or illegal immigrant faces a maximum prison term of three years and a fine of $50,000.

Basahin ang detalye!

Aiders and abettors such as the residents arrested in this crackdown are also liable to prosecution and penalties.

Employers of illegal workers face the more serious penalty of up to 10 years in jail and $500,000 in fines.

 

PRESS FOR DETAILS

 

Filipina tourist found dead in Wanchai guesthouse

 

Kwong Wah Building in Wan Chai, where the woman was found dead in a guesthouse

The Philippine Consulate has confirmed reports that a 72-year-old Filipino woman was found dead in a guesthouse in Wan Chai earlier today, Tuesday.

Assistance to nationals head Vice Consul Gino Soriano said they will meet with the next of kin of the deceased tomorrow to assist them in repatriating her remains.

Hong Kong Police said they received a report at 7:43am from staff of Hotel No 1 at Kwong Wah Building, 269-273 Hennesy Road that the woman had fainted in her room at the said premises.

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

Officers who responded certified the woman dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected.

"The cause of the subject's death is yet to be determined after an autopsy," said the police.

Reports said the woman had a history of high blood pressure and had complained of chest pains.

Initial reports gave two conflicting versions of the case. One said the deceased was a woman, while another said it was a 71-year-old man from the Philippines.

Basahin ang detalye!

It was also not clear from the reports whether the deceased had just arrived from the Philippines ahead of joining a cruise from Hong Kong, or whether she had already taken the cruise and was spending the night in the guesthouse.

The report that correctly identified the deceased as a woman said she had told her roommate at about 9:30pm on Monday that she was going to sleep.

When the roommate woke up at 7:30am she found the deceased unresponsive, cold to the touch, and was no longer breathing.

The case has been classified as “dead body found” pending the result of an autopsy.

Just six days earlier, foremost Filipino chef Margarita Fores was also found dead inside her hotel room in Admiralty, after she missed a lunch appointment.

Her family had expressed shock at her death, as the 65-year-old celebrity chef had just posted photos on Instagram of the Indian restaurant she had dinner at the night before. She was known to be relatively healthy, despite having undergone treatment for cancer twice in the past.

The police said there were no suspicious circumstances in her death.

Fores’ remains were shipped to the Philippines following a day-long wake at the Hong Kong Funeral Home on Feb. 14.

PRESS FOR DETAILS

 

2 Filipinas in jail on money laundering charges

 

Two of three Filipinas who appeared in separate courts today, charged with money laundering, were returned to jail after their cases were adjourned.

At the District Court, Charity Joy Paculio was returned to detention by Judge C.P. Pang after he adjourned her case to May 6. Court notices indicated earlier that she would enter a plea today to a charge of having dealt with $2.75 million in illicit funds.

Paculio, 45 years old, is charged with “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offense,” in violation of section 25(1) and (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

PRESS THIS FOR DETAILS

The case arose from deposits and withdrawals which amounted to $2,751,387.98 representing “any person’s proceeds of an indictable offense,” in her Standard Chartered Bank account between Feb. 22 and 28, 2024.

Susana Echavaria, 57 years old, also remained in detention on two counts of money laundering, involving a comparatively small amount of $533.000.

Eastern Court Principal Magistrate Don So rejected her lawyer’s offer of $30,000 cash bail and assurances that she would attend future hearings of her case.

Basahin ang detalye!

The first charge alleges that Echavaria handled $413,000 in crime money through deposits and withdrawals made between 16 and 29 of August 2019 in her account with the Hongkong and Shanhai Banking Corp.

Her Hang Seng Bank account was then used to handle $120,000 of crime money on September 4 to 13, with the help of a “person unknown”, the Aberdeen Police complaint added.

In the third case, Emilyn Olarte, was able to post bail of $600, and was freed until the next hearing scheduled by Acting Principal Magistrate Veronica Heung for March 18 at Fanling Court.

Olarte, 40 years old, is accused of dealing in $321,552.22 in crime money through her ZA Bank account between Oct. 24, 2023 and Jan. 2024.

PRESS FOR DETAILS

“Sideline” results in 2-month jail for DH

 

Shatin Court 

Will doing a sideline to earn extra income be worth it for a domestic helper? Not if it means losing her job and being jailed to boot.

Jocelyn Balbuena, 37 years old, found this out after she was meted a two-month jail sentence, with no prospect of being allowed to resume work in Hong Kong after her release from prison. She pleaded guilty today at Shatin Court to breaching her condition of stay.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong meted a three-month sentence but gave her a one-third discount for her guilty plea.

Basahin ang detalye!

The Immigration Department complaint said Balbuena violated her condition of stay – to work as a domestic helper for the employer specified in her contract – by peforming work “other than approved by the Director of Immigration.”

Babuena was arrested, on Nov. 21 while doing cleaning work at Nam Fung Centre in Tsuen Wan, along with 13 other persons, during an anti-illegal work operations by the Immigration Department on Nov. 18-21.

In a press statement about the arrests, Immigration warned: "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offense. 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."

During the anti-illegal worker operations, Immigration Task Force officers raided 30 target locations including a beauty parlor, grocery stores, a massage parlor, commercial buildings, residential buildings, restaurants, retail shops and warehouses.

Ten suspected illegal workers and three suspected employers were arrested.

In another operationn in which enforcement officers raided seven target locations in Mongkok district, one female overstayer, aged 37, was also arrested.

PRESS FOR DETAILS