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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Filipina DH jailed 10 months in $834K money laundering case

 

A Filipina domestic helper was jailed for 10 months today after she pleaded guilty at the Kowloon City Court to two money laundering charges involving $833,935.01.

Jocel Pajela, 43 years old, was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for the first charge of “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable crime,” and six months for the second.

However, Acting Principal Magistrate Ko Wai-hung, made the first four months of the second sentence run at the same time as the first, leaving two months’ additional jail term.

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The first charge arose from the deposits and withdrawals of $478,503 in crime money in Pajela’s Hang Seng Bank account between July 12, 2023 and Sept. 6, 2023.

The second charge was for the $355,432.01 that went in and out of her Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. account on April 18 to 29, 2023.

Both acts violated the Serious and Organized Crime Ordinance.

Meanwhile, another DH walked free on bail of $2,000 from the Kwun Tong Court today despite the addition of two more money laundering charges against her, in which a total of $2.2 million in crime money allegedly passed though her three bank accounts.

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Eva Rose Tacda, 47 years old, initially faced one charge of “dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable crime,” according to the information filed by police on July 26, 2024.

The charge arose from deposits and withdrawals totaling $256,510.1 in her MOX Bank Ltd. account within two days, on Feb. 22-23, 2023.

The first of the two additional charges was for her alleged handling of $940,356 though deposits and withdrawals in her Standard Chartered Bank account on February 22-27, 2023.

Her third charge arose from the inflow and outflow of $983,839 in her HSBC account also on February 22-27, 2023, the police complaint added.

All of the alleged offences are  in violation of the Organized and Serious Crime Ordinance,

Acting Principal Magistrate Leung Ka-kie adjourned the case to May 20.

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Careless opening of taxi door costs Pinay $600

Be careful when getting off taxis (file photo)

Be careful when opening a door of a taxi or any vehicle, to get off. If you cause an accident and hurt someone, you will be liable under Hong Kong laws.

A Filipina learned this lesson today after she was summoned to Tuen Mun Law Courts to face the charge of opening, “without reasonable excuse, … the door of a taxi on a road… so as to cause danger to another person.”

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S. Duldulao, 32 years old, pleaded guilty and was fined $600 by Magistrate Debbie Ng.

According to the information laid by the Police Central Traffic Prosecutions Division, Duldulao was getting off a taxi in the afternoon of July 9 last year on Man Tak Road in Tin Shui Wai when the door hit a person who was passing by.

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The incident kicked into action two provisions of the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations which were made under the Road Traffic Ordinance.

Regulation 44(2) states: “No person shall open or cause or permit to be opened any door of a motor vehicle or trailer on a road so as to cause injury or danger to any person.”

Regulation 61(2) also states: “Any person who without reasonable excuse contravenes any of the provisions of, or any requirement under, regulation … 44 (among others) … commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 1 ($2,000).”

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HK to ban use of power banks on aircraft

 

Use of power banks will no longer be allowed on board local aircraft from Apr 7

From Apr 7, all local airlines should not allow their passengers to use power banks to charge mobile phones or other electronic devices, or recharge power banks while on flight. 

Additionally, all passengers will not be allowed to stow power banks in the overhead compartments of aircraft starting on the same date. What this suggests is that the power banks can be placed under the seat, or in the seat pocket in front of the passenger.

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The move was announced by the Civil Aviation Department today, Monday, following a meeting with representatives from local airlines last Friday, Mar 21.

The restrictions will be on top of the International Civil Aviation Organization's relevant regulations on the carriage of items by passengers onboard, including prohibiting the carrying of power banks in check-in baggage, and allowing only power banks with watt-hour rating of not exceeding 100Wh to be brought on board.

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Additionally, batteries must be packed sparately and protected from overheating by taping over exposed terminals. Each passenger is allowed to bring on board a maximum of two battery packs, with each not exceeding 100Wh.

Other airlines, such as Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways, have already imposed similar restrictions.

The move follows a number of fires breaking out aboard aircraft, which have been directly linked to power banks.

In the latest case, an inbound Hong Kong Airlines flight from the mainland Chinese city of Hangzhou was forced to divert to Fuzhou after a fire broke out on board the aircraft last Tuesday. Passengers suspect the blaze was caused by a power bank that overheated.

  

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2 Philippine displays win merit awards at HK Flower Show 2025

The PCG's booth won the 'Merit Award for Unique Feature'

The Philippine Consulate has won a merit award for its booth display at the Hong Kong Flower Show which ended today, Mar 23, while a Philippines-based organization won a similar award.

The PCG’s display which was done in collaboration with the United Architects of the Philippines Hong Kong chapter was handed the “Merit Award for Unique Feature.”

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The display, which featured a Philippine “balangay”, a colorful, colonial-era boat side-by-side with a Chinese junk, was meant to symbolize the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-China diplomatic relations.

The flowers used for the display were the everlasting which is mainly grown in Baguio;  cosmos, which is the featured flower for this year’s Flower Show; as well as aster, chrysanthemum, begonia, million bells, kalachoes and daisies. A bonsai tree completed the display.

Blue Grass Project Philippines won Merit Award for Design Excellence

The other winner was the Blue Grass Project Philippines, which on the “Merit Award for Design Excellence” for its flower displays which appeared to float on air.

Another participant from the Philippines was the World Flower Council (Philippines chapter) which showcased a profusion of orchids in various colors.

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Named as Grand Winner for Unique Feature was the Pakistan Consulate General’s booth which was turned into a pebbled garden with walls showing the country’s scenic attractions, and its world-famous rug being used as a centerpiece.

Pakistan PCG's display won the Grand Award for Unique Feature

As in years past, the Tinikling dance by Filipino migrant workers, some of whom did the intricate footwork with bamboo poles while blindfolded, was a big hit.

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HK Flower Show 2025 with the theme “Ablaza With Glory” opened on Mar 14, and drew an estimated 650,000 visitors.

The Philippine contingent at the Flower Show

More than 400,000 flowers mostly imported from abroad, were used by 238 organizations which took part in the annual event organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 

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7 Pinoys arrested for illegal work appear in court

 

Immigration Department photo of those arrested 

Seven Filipino men who were arrested for working illegally in a cargo company in Kwai Chung last March 4, have appeared at Shatin Court, charged with violating the Immigation Ordinance and the Immigration Regulations.

Of the seven, only Rodrigo Sarabia, 60 years old, was charged with breach of condition of stay because he was allowed to stay in Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper at the address specified in the employment contract he used to get his visa.

In a hearing on March 19, Sarabia was allowed by Magistrate David Chum to post bail of $1,000.

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Earlier reports said six  of the suspected illegal workers arrested in the raid were asylum seekers or non-refoulement claimants holding recognizance papers which prohibit them from taking up work. The seventh is a male FDH while the eighth was a female overstayer.

Two of the asylum seekers arrested were Junipher Sambalod, 41 years old, and Marcelino Guisinga, 44. Both were also allowed to post bail but at $10,000 cash plus surety of another $10,000.

Both are facing a charge of “taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order is in force” in violation of section 38AA(1)(b) and 38AA(2) of the Immigration Ordinance.

The four others, who are facing similar charges – Julie JR Arcega, 43, Aris Pareja, 51, Christian Mendane, 34, and Joel Lorente, 46 – were returned to jail to await their next court date on April 22.

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Arcega is one of four Filipinos and a Bangladeshi who were cleared by the District Court last March 19 of acting indecently towads a child, but was not freed because he was detained at that time for this case.

Last March 5, the Immigration Department announced it has arrested nine persons in an anti-illegal work operation conducted by its agents in Kwai Chung last Mar 4, eight of whom were Filipinos. The ninth is a 51-year-old male Hong Kong resident who is suspected of employing them.

The statement said the eight suspects were caught while performing transporting and wrapping duties in a unit of the industrial building. They comprised seven men and one woman, aged 34 to 60. 

The woman, who was reportedly an overstayer,  was not among those who appeared in court to face charges. 

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Immigration warned that illegal work is a serious offence that merits a jail sentence.

Those who are convicted of the offence while on tourist or domestic helper’s visa could be jailed for up to two years and fined $50,000.

Recognizance paper holders or overstayers face a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of $50,000.

Those found to have employed illegal workers could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $500,000.

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Illness postpones Filipina’s sentencing for fraud

 

Immigration Department

The Shatin Court postponed for a week the sentencing of a Filipina who had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Immigration Department, when she did not show up Friday (March 21) due to illness.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong rescheduled to March 28 the sentencing of Mariclaire Calagui, 41 years old, but required her to present a medical certificate.

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Magistrate Cheang extended her $1,000 bail on the same terms.

According to the police complaint, Calagui conspired with Lee Ka Ming and Kathleen Emily Vizcarra to defraud the Director of Immigration and his officers by entering into a fake employment contract to work as a domestic helper of Lee.

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The fraud induced the Immigration officers “to act contrary to their public duty, namely to grant you permission to remain in Hong Kong under circumstances in which they would not otherwise have granted.”

Vizcarra is herself facing a similar case in District Court for her part as agent in the alleged conspiracy that involved Calagui and several others.

Basahin ang detalye!

Magistrate Cheang also scheduled the sentencing of another Filipina for April 17 at Shatin Court for "making a false representation to an Immigration Officer lawfully acting under or in the execution of  Part III of the Immigration Ordinance."

The charge against Melinda David, 42 years old, arose from her telling the officer on Oct 2, 2023 that she would work for a certain employer "knowing the same to be false o not believing the same ti be true...." 

She was set free on bail of $1,000.

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18 persons arrested in latest anti-illegal work sweep

 

One of those caught in the raids is taken to a police van

A series of raids aimed at flushing out illegal workers and their employers resulted in 18 people being arrested in places like exhibition halls, industrial and residential buildings, restaurants and retail shops.

The four-day sweep from Mar 17 to 20 which included parts of Central, resulted in 15 suspected illegal workers being arrested, along with three employers.

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The suspected illegal workers comprised nine men and four women, aged 24 to 56. Two women were found to hold recognizance forms as asylum seekers, while another woman was in possession of a forged HK identity card.

Two suspected employers, both men aged 35 and 40, and another aged 65, were arrested during operation.

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Immigration warned that working illegally is a serious crime in Hong Kong, for which the maximum jail term is between two and three years, with a fine of $50,000.

Possessing someone else’s HKID card or a forged one can get an offender up to 10 years in jail. Employers could spend that much time in detention, plus a fine of up to $500,000.

Among those repatriated are these Vietnamese women

Meanwhile, a total of 18 Vietnamese nationals, nine men and nine women, were sent back to their country today.

According to a press statement from Immigration, they were all asylum seekers and included a number who had been jailed for committing crimes.

Basahin ang detalye!

Immigration said it remains committed to speeding up the removal of illegal immigrants and overstayers from Hong Kong as soon as practicable.

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Comelec says internet voting on, but where’s pre-enrolment link?

 

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Comelec chair George Garcia announces the start of historic online voting, but does not provide link

The first internet voting for overseas Filipinos was proclaimed by the Commission on Elections to have begun yesterday, with the pre-enrolment for voters scheduled to kick in.

However, the link for pre-enrolment, which had already been delayed by 10 days, was nowhere to be found on any of the Comelec’s official websites or social media pages.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia told reporters yesterday, Thursday, that it was the first day of pre-enrolment for internet voters. 

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“Today is the first day of enrolment, you must enroll yourselves on our website, everything is there…,” he said, adding that that it would only take less than two minutes to complete the process.

He advised Filipinos abroad that they must enroll first to get a code, then use that to secure a ballot and cast their votes.

He said the Comelec is “lenient” in that it will accept any government-issued IDs, expired or new passport, seaman’s book as proof of identity for the pre-enrolment, which was supposed to run from yesterday, Mar 20, to Apr 7.

Provided, however, that people who will pre-enrol are registered overseas voters.

Comelec's advisory on pre-enrolment merely provides a link to its website

The pre-enrolment will serve as a dry run for the actual enrolment which will start on the first day of overseas voting on Apr 13, up until May 5, or a week before the election ends on May 12.

Only the online media portal, Rappler, noted that the pre-enrolment link was missing, and said that it had already sought clarification about it from Comelec’s Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) but have yet to get a reply.

Comments on OFOV’s Facebook page raised the same question, with some raising concern about a possible glitch, or blaming Comelec for being remiss in its duty. 

Not a few said they had doubts about intenet voting and would rather vote as before.

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In Hong Kong, the Philippine Consulate has again scheduled a briefing on pre-enrolment with Filipino community leaders this coming Sunday, Mar. 23. A session set a week earlier did not go as planned because the original start of the list-up on Mar 10 was canceled at the last minute.

Internet voting will replace face-to-face casting of ballots or voting by mail in 77 overseas posts where there are sizeable numbers of Filipino voters, and the internet system is not restricted, as in China and Russia.

Comelec and the OV Secretariat of the Department of Foreign Affairs are working hand-in-hand to boost voter turnout with the new system.

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In the 2022 presidential election, a record 38% of all registered overseas voters turned out to vote. Hong Kong’s turnout was nearly twice this much in terms of percentage. Of the 93,886 registered voters, 62,252 or 64% had cast their ballots.

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