HK has new Philippine Consul-General

One of the rare public photos of incoming Consul General Romulo Israel, Jr 

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong is set to welcome its new consul general, Romulo Victor Manzano Israel, Jr.

ConGen Israel will be taking up the top post in the city after serving as consul general in South Korea, which is now headed by Ambassador Tess Dizon De Vega.

Ambassador De Vega, who once served as deputy consul general in Hong Kong and was widely popular in the Filipino community here, describes her deputy as a “good guy, very patient and malumanay.”

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“Personally I was hoping he would stay on longer in Korea but this is a good opportunity for him to head a post, and one of the most important ones at that,” she said.

Congen Israel will replace Germinia Aguilar-Usudan, who has returned to the head office of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila after nearly seven years of active leadership in the PCG in Hong Kong, first as deputy consul general, then as consul general in January 2024.

Congen Israel is 54 years old, married to Catherine Joy Pineda Israel with whom he has two children, Mathew Vincent and Aleithea Clare.

He comes to Hong Kong after 25 years of being with the foreign service, a big part of which he spent dealing with migrant workers’ concerns.

Congen Israel worked as deputy to Ambassador Tess de Vega (center) in Korea

On joining the DFA in 2000 he served at the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs handling the Middle East and Africa Desk.

He was then assigned as Officer in Charge of DFA Regional Office II from 2002 to 2003.

In 2003, he was assigned to the Phil. Embassy Riyadh where he was named assistant head of the Assistance to Nationals Section, particularly dealing with women cases.

Three years later he was promoted as consul, and assumed the role of head of the Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.

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In 2013, after serving at the Head Office, he was posted as consul at the Philippine Consulate in Chicago, and after only four months, became deputy consul general.

He was then recalled for the mandatory service at the DFA head office in October 2019, when he became executive director and deputy assistant secretary at the Office of American Affairs.

In January 2022 he was sent abroad again, to serve as consul general at the Embassy in Seoul.

Congen Israel took up AB Pre-Divinity, and Masters in Degree Theology major in pastoral ministry, both at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

Before joining the foreign service he volunteered in church groups involved in promoting free and honest elections, and also served in religious missions helping urban and rural poor communities.

One of the things that would surely make him feel right at home in Hong Kong is the presence of a local chapter of the Knights of Rizal. He is, after all, the Regional Commander for Asia of the Order of Knights of Rizal, and concurrent commander for the Korea chapter.

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Filipino tourist jailed 30 months for 63 live turtles in luggage

 

The critically endangered turtles were found inside the Filipino's luggage

A Filipino tourist who brought 63 taped-up live turtles in his luggage when he arrived at the airport on March 31 last year, has been jailed by the District Court for 30 months for violation of two animal protection laws.

Dexter V. Tabora, 37 years old, had pleaded guilty last March 18 to two violations of the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance and one violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance.

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Deputy District Judge Terence Wai handed down last Friday (March 28) a sentence of 24 months for the first charge, 16 months for the second charge, and six months for the third charge. 

But since Judge Wai made the first and second sentences run at the same time, to be followed by the third sentence, the prison term added up to 30 months.

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Tabora was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport on March 31 last year, after the endangered turtles valued at $819,000, were allegedly found in his possession, according to the Customs and Excise Department, which filed the complaint against him.

Tabora arrived in Hong Kong from Malaysia and was in transit to the Philippines when he was arrested.

The first charge against him is for importing 49 live radiated tortoise, which are classified as Appendix 1 species, in violation of section 5(1) and (3) of Cap 586, otherwise known as the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance. The species is native to Madagascar where its meat is highly prized. It is also highly valued in illegal pet markets abroad.

The second charge against Tabora is over the alleged discovery of 14 live painted batagur or terrapin in his baggage, classified as an Appendix II species, which is a violation of Section 11(1) of the same law.

Both charges carry a maximum penalty of $10 million in fines and a prison term of up to 10 years.

The third is a charge of cruelty to animals, contrary to section 3(1) (g) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, Cap. 169. The turtles were all taped up before being packed into the luggage “in a way which might cause them needless or avoidable suffering,” the complaint said.

This offense is punishable with up to $200,000 in fines and three years in prison.

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HK sends search & rescue team to quake-hit Myanmar

The quake reduced a building under contruction in Bangkok into a heap of rubble (AFP photo)

The Hong Kong government sent a 51-strong search and rescue team to earthquake-stricken Myanmar this Saturday afternoon. The group was sent off by top government officials led by Chief Executive John Lee.

More than 1,000 people are reported to have been killed in the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and was felt all the way in Thailand on Friday afternoon.

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In the Thai capital Bangkok, at least six people have been found dead, 26 injuired and 47 missing, mostly from a construction site near the capital’s popular Chatuchak market. Meanw

hile, the Philippine government has said no Filipino has been hurt in the tremor, contrary to unverified reports that circulated earlier.

But the Philippine Embasses in Thailand and Myanmar have advised Filipinos in the two countries “to remain calm and vigilant” and monitor updates on the situation only from credible sources.

A building in Mandalay was left leaning on one side (Reuters photo)

In Myanmar, the military-led government said in a statement Saturday that 1,002 people have already been found dead and another 2,376 injured, with 30 others missing.

The numbers are expected to still rise, with the government saying “detailed figures are still being collected.”

The earthquake, said to be one of the strongest to ever hit Myanmar, was centered near the capital Mandalay. It was followed by several strong aftershocks, with one measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale.

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Across many areas in the country, buildings were toppled, roads damaged, bridges collapsed, and at least one dam burst its banks.

In neighboring Thailand, hardest hit was Bangkok, where many people live in high-rise buildings.

The massive building that was left in rubbles was a 33-storey high-rise being built by a Chinese firm for the Thai government. Witnesses said the building wobbled, then crashed to the ground in a massive plume of dust that sent people screaming and scurrying away.

HK top officials send off the city's Myanmar-bound rescue team 

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government has expressed sympathy to the people of Myanmar in the wake of tragedy, particularly the families of the victims.

In addition, it immediately set aside $30 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to help the emergency relief operation in Myanmar.

Hong Kong’s rescue and relief team that flew to Myanmar was led by the Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the Fire Services Department (FSD), Cheu Yu-kok. It comprised 40 members of the FSD which include firemen, ambulancemen and fire services workshops personnel, as well as officers from the Security Bureau, the Immigration Department and the HA.

The team brought along two search and rescue dogs, as well as about nine tons of equipment which includes life detectors and masonry cutting machines, an automatic satellite tracking antenna system, and relief supplies.

They will join local rescue teams in Myanmar in the search and relief operations.

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3 Pinays jailed 12 months each for laundering $2m

 

Three Filipina domestic helpers were each jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty at Eastern Court to letting their bank accounts be used to launder money from crime in sums ranging from $200,000 to $1.4 million.

Noemi Pellerin, 47 years old, Melanie Lizardo, 35, and Irene Castro, 36, were charged together as the use of their bank accounts to launder a total of a little over $2 million happened almost simultaneously.

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Principal Magistrate Don So handed down the sentences to them on Friday (March 28) after they admitted their part in dealing with proceeds of a crime, which is punishable under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

The charge against Pellerin arose from the deposits and withdawals fom her Standard Chartered Bank account, that totalled $400,400.49 between Apil 3 and July 31 in 2023.

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Lizardo’s case arose from the $200,394.46 that flowed in and out of her Standard Chartered Bank account between March 28 and July 31, 2023.

Castro had the biggest amount, at $1,400, 239.32, that passed through her Standard Chartered Bank account between April 3 and July 31, 2023.

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OWWA to start issuing e-card to OFWs in HK

 

The OWWA e-card is recognized as a government-issued identity document

Hong Kong will be the next overseas post after Taiwan where the e-card for overseas Filipino workers will be issued directly by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

This was revealed by OWWA Administrator Arnel Ignacio during a press briefing at Malacanang on Friday, where he joined Palace Press Officer Claire Castro. He did not, however, say when he will be in Hong Kong for this purpose.

“We are going to Hong Kong, dadalhin namin yung machine para yung mga taga Hong Kong mabibigyan ng e-card,” said Ignacio.

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He said OWWA had previously extended the same service to OFWs in Taiwan.

While the e-card can be secured online, the physical card is currently only issued at the OFW lounges at terminals 1 and 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Department of Migrant Workers Central Office in Mandaluyong and the OWWA-NCR Regional Office in Quezon City.

The physical card can be currently secured at OFW lounges at NAIA

With the machine for printing the e-card being brought to Hong Kong, OFWs will be able to obtain the ID-sized e-card without having to leave the city. And according to the OWWA chief, it could be printed within only five minutes.

The e-card is recognized as a valid government identification card, and is primarily used to make transactions with OWWA faster. It also serves as an exit clearance each time an OFW leaves the country.

To be eligible for the e-card, one must be a returning OFW (or Balik Manggagawa) with an active OWWA membership for at least 90 days, a valid overseas employment certificate (OEC), OFW Pass or OEC exemption number, and a valid passport.

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At the press briefing, the first question asked of Ignacio was how OFWs were reacting to the no-remittance calls by supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte in protest at his arrest and detention in line with a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Ignacio said he had just arrived from a visit to Singapore and Thailand, and no one had brought this up with him there.

“OFWs never mentioned this to us,” he said. “Kung ano lang ang basic (need) yun lang ang hinihingi.” (They just asked us to provide them with their basic needs).

“Doon pa rin sila umiikot sa pangangailangan nila.” (They remain focused on their needs).

The gathering outside the ICC was both a celebration of Duterte's birthday and a protest

Meanwhile, hundreds of Filipinos across Europe gathered outside the ICC detention facility in The Hague on Friday to mark Duterte’s 80^th birthday with protests.

His supporters who gathered from morning until 3pm called for Duterte to be freed, and condemned the government of incumbent president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for surrendering him to the ICC.

Those who opposed the call staged their own rally afterwards, calling on the ICC to make sure Duterte is held to account for the thousands of Filipinos killed during his bloody war on drugs, from when he was mayor of Davao City, until he became the country’s president starting in 2016.

Across the Philippines, thousands of Duterte supporters staged separate rallies, with the biggest one being held in his Davao City bailiwick.

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Pinoy gets 4 months’ jail in $147K money laundering case

 

 

A Filipino construction worker was jailed yesterday for four months for letting criminals use his bank account to launder their earnings totalling $147,394.

Marlon Cayambas, 48, had earlier pleaded guilty to dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable crime, in violation of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

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Acting Principal Magistrate Leung Ka-kie Leung gave Cayambas a starting point of six months in jail and gave him a one third discount.

The case arose from the inflow and outflow of money totalling $147,394 in his HSBC account between 15th and 21st  of September, 2021.

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‘Zero remittance’ call by Duterte supporters draws mixed reaction

 

Duterte supporters across Europe gather at The Hague on Mar 23 (Facebook photo)

A call by supporters of detained former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for overseas Filipino workers to halt remittances to the Philippines for a week to protest Duterte’s arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court has drawn mixed reactions.

The ‘zero remittance’ campaign starts tomorrow, Mar 28, to coincide with Duterte’s 80^th birthday, and ends on Apr 4.

Reacting to the call, Presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile told OFWs they must consider the move very carefully as it could lead to sanctions, such as the possible taking away of their tax-free privileges whenever they fly out of the country.

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In a Facebook post, the former Senate president said he was merely offering a “humble, unsolicited reminder” to social and political leaders and OFWs who are protesting Duterte’s detention at the ICC facility at The Hague.

Malacanang was, however, quick to distance itself from the dire warning, saying OFWs have the right to peaceful protest, but urged them to put their families’ needs first and understand the government’s position on Duterte’s arrest and detention by the ICC.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted that the campaign could have adverse effects, given that OFW remittances have long been a driver for the country’s economy.

Castro also said the call might be seen as inciting to sedition as it could prevent the government from fulfilling its duty. But, they have no plans to hold the organizers accountable - yet.

Senate President Chiz Escudero disagreed, however, saying no Philippine law is violated by the no-remittance campaign. But he cautioned against it.

“For me, it is well within their rights, but it will hurt, not only their familie and loved ones when it comes to sustaining their daily, weekly and monthly needs,” said Escudero.

He added he would advise against pursuing the campaign as “this is not an issue of revenge.” Retaliating would not cause the issue to subside and calm emotions and tensions in the county, he said.

Duterte was asked to confirm his identity when he first appeared at the ICC via videolink

Migrante International, which has led similar campaigns in the past, has hit out at the pro-Duterte organizers, accusing them of misusing the protest tactic.

They said the original intention of such a campaign was to fight for the rights of OFWs and not to protect a “criminal” ex-president.

The call was issued by Duterte supporters who are accusing President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of being behind his predecessor’s arrest on Mar 12, as he landed in Manila from a trip to Hong Kong.

Duterte was served a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC, which said there were reasonable grounds to believe he committed crimes against humanity in the form of murder, rape and torture, during his bloody crackdown on drugs from the time he was mayor in Davao City, and as president of the Philippines.

His drug war left at least 6,000 people dead according to official government records, while human rights groups estimate the death toll to be between 20,000 and 30,000.

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Pinay resident jailed 18 days for 4 assaults on Filipina DH

Building where assault happened (Google Maps photo)

A Filipina resident who pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong court two weeks ago to four counts of assault on her domestic helper, also a Filipina, was jailed today for 18 days.

May Esplana, a 37-year-old customer service officer, received discounts on her sentence from Acting Principal Magistrate Leung Ka-kie for pleading guilty last March 13.

Magistrate Leung initially sentenced her to six days in jail for each of the first three counts of assault on her DH, Justine Melendres, but only took two days from each and added these to the 12 days’ jail for the fourth charge.

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Since she had been in jail for more than two weeks, she would be released shortly.

The assaults were committed in Esplana’s flat on Ting Yip St. in Sau Mau Ping, Kowloon.

The first two charges of common assault were committed by Esplana on the helper on two separate occasions on Oct. 29 last year. She again assaulted Melendres two days later, on Oct. 31.

The assault was repeated the next day, Nov. 1, but leaving “actual bodily harm” on Melendres, resulting in the fourth charge.

The maximum penalty for assault occasioning bodily harm is three years' imprisonment while for common assault it is a year in jail.

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Non-urgent hospital visits to cost more from next year

 

Non-urgent patients will be charged more than 2x the current rate from Jan 1

Starting Jan 1, 2026, patients who go to public hospitals’ accident and emergency departments for non-urgent or non-emergency cases will be charged $400 instead of the current $180.

But patients who are in critical condition or need emergency services will not be charged.

The move is part of the government’s plan to revamp health care charges, with the higher fees taking effect over three phases from next year.

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Also as part of the new scheme is the adjustment of charges for other services, such as hospital stays and consultations at specialist and outpatient clinics.

To ease the effect on less financially able patients, the government plans to cap charges at $10,000 per patient per year, and help eligible people to apply for a total fee waiver when needed.

Health minister Lo Chung-mau said that what the government intends is to offer more help to indigent patients and those who are seriously ill.

The estimated $3 billion that will be generated from the initial phase of the scheme will go toward improving public health services, Lo said.

As part of the plan, a “co-payment model” will be introduced, in which patients will be charged between $50 and $500 for advanced and highly complicated pathology and non-urgent imaging tests.

But basic check-ups will remain free.

The scheme will also see patients being prescribed no more than four weeks' worth of drugs each time they go to public hospitals or clinics for a consultation.

Despite all these adjustments, the government is still expected to subsidize about 90% of the patients’ treatment in public hospitals, slightly down from 97.6 percent at present.

Hospital Authority chief executive Tony Ko said that from past experience, a number of patients would rather try alternative methods of care once a new fee structure is put in place.

"This enables us to have more capability to reserve our manpower resources to take care of the patients who really need emergency and accidents, and urgent care,” he said.

About 1.4 million residents are expected to benefit from the government’s plan to relax the income and asset requirements to qualify for a fee waiver, up from the current 300,000.

The HK$10,000 annual fee cap, on the other hand, is expected to benefit around 70,000 chronic or severely-ill patients who need to visit hospitals frequently.

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Pinay faces theft, obtaining property by deception charges

 

Kowloon City Court

An unemployed Filipina has been detained after appearing at Kowloon City Court, charged with stealing several items from a hostel guest, including five credit cards which she then allegedly used to purchase goods.

Mylene Navarro, 48, is accused of one charge of theft and four counts of obtaining property by deception. Acting Principal Magistrate Ko Wai-hung ordered her to remain in custody until the next hearing on May 21.

In a hearing on Mar.19, Navarro was alleged to have taken one mobile phone, one Rolex watch, and one wallet containing  HK identity card, one-way travel permit to the Mainland, $2,000 cash as well as five credit cards, with a total value of $96,095.50.

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The Police complaint alleged that the theft was committed on Nov. 23 in one of the rooms of Rainbow City Inn on Pitt Street in Yau Ma Tei.

The four counts of obtaining property by deception arose from Navarro allegedly using the credit cards for the following purchases later that day:

• $1,204 worth of goods from the Circle K store on Jordan Road, using a stolen Standard Chartered credit card.
• $2,292.50 worth of goods from the 7-Eleven store on Bowring Road, using a stolen Standard Chartered credit card.
• $227 worth of goods from the 7-Eleven store In the MTR Prince Edward station using a stolen HSBC credit cad.
• $204 worth of goods from the 7-Eleven store on Jordan Road, using a stolen HSBC credit card.  

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Link to pre-enrolment for overseas voting out, but…

It was an agony getting to this page for many overseas Filipinos who tried to pre-enrol to vote

Three days after it was supposed to have been made public, the link to the pre-enrolment for overseas voting was finally released by the Commission of Elections on Mar 23, but this was immediately met with widespread criticism.

The complaints ranged from the link not going to any page or was broken, to messages of the person being blocked because of a security trigger, the clicked page expiring too quickly, and so on.

Some who tried to pre-enrol got this alarming notice

The problems appear to have been so widespread that by Monday, Mar 24, only about 5,000 Filipinos overseas had managed to pre-enrol, according to Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia himself.

This is a tiny fraction of the 1,241,690 Filipinos registered to vote abroad.

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But Garcia did not seem overly concerned, telling reporters that he expects the number to increase in the coming days. He also expressed hopes that the pre-enrolment figure will rise to nearly the same level as the registration figure.

..or this quirky reply, but still no pre-enrolment page

Bayan Muna Hong Kong is not as optimistic, saying Comelec’s “flawed system” is bound to lead to widespread disenfranchisement.

“Not only was Comelec late in providing the pre-enrolment link and information drive, there are no advisories on what to do if such problems are encountered. We need an accessible and reliable system,” said Bayan Muna spokesperson Lai Besana in a Facebook post.

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She said that because of the difficulties encountered by many of those trying to enroll, some voters are not calling for the return to in-person voting. But this, said Besana, is a problem in itself because it would mean a return to the long queues and hours of waiting to vote, especially on Sundays.

Besana said her post was a call for Comelec to urgently address the issues faced by voters frustrated with their inability to take the first step towards casting their vote for the upcoming national elections in the Philippines.

Pre-enrolment is a test run for the actual online voting which will be held from Apr 13 to May 12.

PCG provided the link, and says that those who cannot access the page may go to them for help

Pre-enrolment is set from Mar 20 to Apr 7, and the actual enrolment to vote will be from Apr 13 to May 5, or a week before online voting ends. All registered voters will have to enroll to gain access to the voting portal where they will be asked to fill a ballot and cast it online afterwards.

As it is a mid-term election, overseas voters can only vote for 12 senators and one party-list group on any day during the election period.

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