 |
| Photo of Vargas shared by a netizen worried about her mental health |
The family of a Filipina former domestic helper whose photo was posted online by a netizen who expressed concern about her mental well-being is asking for help in locating her so she can be brought home.
A Facebook post that was shared with the family of
Kris Hope Vargas on Nov. 27 said she was seen wandering near K11 Musea in Tsim
Sha Tsui, apparently not in her right mind. She was seen holding a mobile
phone, looking dazed and dishevelled.
 |
| How? Pindutin dito |
Her family immediately contacted the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration in the Philippines to ask help for her immediate
repatriation. As of this writing, however, OWWA has yet to get information on
her whereabouts as her previous recruitment agency said it had lost touch with
her in 2019.
Vargas, 32, was previously jailed for six months for
money laundering and had been in and out of court since two years ago as she
faced another charge of overstaying her visa. The charge said she should have
remained in Hong Kong only until Mar 10, 2020, after her FDH visa was
terminated.
 |
| PINDUTIN DITO! |
She was arrested outside Chung King Mansions in Tsim
Sha Tsui on Nov. 10, 2020 and charged with money laundering and overstaying.
She was jailed on June 7, 2021 on the laundering charge
but the prosecution asked for more time to look into her alleged breach of condition of
stay.
Subsequently, she filed a non-refoulement claim, or
against being sent back home, which allowed her to be freed on bail while her
immigration case was being heard, along with the overstaying charge.
 |
| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
But through several months of hearing at Eastern
Court, Vargas had jumped bail at least twice, prompting the magistrate to forfeit her bail,
and order her arrest. This happened in November 2021 and again on Apr 26, 2022.
Her case did not appear in the court list again until
today, when it was mentioned for another hearing at Eastern court tomorrow at
9:30am.
 |
| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Despite this, it is not clear if the authorities
have somehow found Vargas and put her back in detention, or if the case was
just listed down again as a matter of practice.
But whatever happens in court, Vargas’ family just
wants her back home as soon as possible, saying her father has been distraught,
especially over news that a crime syndicate has been holding her against her will.
Anybody with information about her whereabouts and
how she can be helped may contact the OWWA hotline, 6345 9324.
 |
| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
 |
| PADALA NA! |
.jpg) |
| PRESS FOR DETAILS |
