The Consulate has advised Filipinas in Hong Kong to beware of falling for, or giving their addresses to sweet-talking foreigners who could use them for illicit purposes.
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| Wes 9t Kowloon Court. |
The warning came as two Filipina domestic helpers appeared in West Kowloon Court on Dec. 7 to face charges of drug trafficking that resulted from them taking delivery of parcels sent to them by foreign men.
Consul Paulo Saret, head of the assistance to national section, said Filipina workers should never agree to receive packages whose senders they do not know.
“Katulad ng sinasabi namin sa PAOS, or post-arrival orientation seminars, na huwag magtitiwala sa maymagpapadala sa atin na packages kung galling tayo sa Pilipinas o galing man saan na pakibigay kay ganito,” Saret said.
“Pero additionally, nire-remind ko dahil sa nangyari dito sa dalawa, na hindi tayo dapat
magbukas ng parcel na naka-address sa atin pero hindi naman natin alam kung sino ang nagpadala,” Saret said.
He said if a worker finds herself in this situation, she should call the police and open the parcel
in front of them so she would not be put in a difficult situation.
“Beware sa matatamis ang dila na gustong makipagkaibigan…na itinuturing mong boyfriend, iyon pala ang purpose nung guy ay gawin kang unwitting accomplice sa kanyang illegal schemes,” he said.
Michelle Mardo, a 41-year-old mother of three, was arrested on Sept 27 after she received a parcel containing suspected cocaine that arrived from Ecuador on Sept 7. The delivery man, wearing a UPS uniform, turned out to be a Customs officer.
A government press release said 440 grams of the illegal drug was concealed between layers of four wooden boxes that arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport air mail center, and consigned to Mardo in her Yuen Long address.
At the third hearing of the case before Magistrate Ada Yim prosecutor amended the amount of cocaine hidden in the parcel to 296 grams from 440 grams.
Mardo was not asked to enter a plea. At the hearing was her eldest son and some Filipina friends.
The magistrate adjourned the case until Jan 14, and remanded Mardo in custody.
Calin Baybayan, the second Filipina defendant, returned to court for a bail review eight days after she was charged with trafficking in a dangerous drug. She too, received a drug-laden parcel from abroad.
At the request of the prosecution, Magistrate Yim adjourned the case to Jan.24 and remanded Baybayan in custody.
