Dahil sa dalang sibuyas sa maleta, 10 PAL crew, iniimbestigahan

Ng The SUN

 

Ang mga nasabat na produkto mula sa mga PAL crew na galing Dubai at Riyadh (BOC photos)

Sampung tauhan ng Philippine Airlines ang iniimbestigahan matapos makitaan ng halos 40 kilo ng sibuyas, lemon at berries sa kanilang maleta pagdating sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport sa Maynila nitong Biyernes, Jan. 13. 

Ang ilan sa crew ay dumating sakay ng PR655 mula sa Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at nakitaan ng 11.5 kilo ng sibuyas at anim na kilo ng lemon na nagkakahalaga ng US$100. 

Ang iba naman ay sakay ng PR659 mula Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at may dala ng 15.5 kilo ng sibuyas, 4.5 kilo ng lemon at isang kilo ng strawberries at blueberries na ang kabuuang halaga ay tinatayang US$150. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Kinumpiska ang kanilang mga dala ng Bureau of Customs sa NAIA bago ipinasa sa Bureau of Quarantine para sirain.

Ayon pa sa mga naunang balita, malamang na kasuhan daw ang crew ng “attempted smuggling” o tangkang pagpasok ng mga pinagbabawal na produkto sa bansa, bagay na pinabulaanan naman agad ng isang tagapagsalita ng BOC.

“Hindi naman po sila inaresto at wala naman po sa batas na dapat ikulong o i-aresto po sila (They were not arrested and there is nothing in the law that states they should be jailed or arrested),” sabi ni Arnaldo dela Torre Jr., tagapagsalita ng BOC, sa isang mensahe sa Philippine Star.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Dagdag ni Dela Torre, ang tanging aksyon na ginawa sa kaso nila ay ang pagkumpiska sa mga dala nilang sibuyas at iba pang produkto at ang pagpasa ng mga ito sa Bureau of Quarantine.

Hindi naman daw sila maaring kasuhan ng smuggling na katulad ng naunang napabalita. Ayon sa Republic Act 10845 o Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, tanging “large scale” o malakihang smuggling lang ng mga produktong pag agrikultura ang pinaparusahan.

Nguni’t hindi lang naman sa ilalim ng batas na ito maaring parusahan ang sinumang magpapasok sa bansa ng mga halaman, gulay o prutas ng walang pahintulot sa awtoridad.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Ayon sa customs declaration form na kailangang sagutan ng lahat ng mga pumapasok ng bansa, maaring pagmultahin ang sinumang mahuli na hindi nagdeklara ng mga dala nilang mga bagay o produkto na nasa listahan.

Mismong ang PAL ay nagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon sa insidente, ayon sa kanilang tagapagsalita na si Cielo Villaluna.

“Hindi kinukunsinti ng PAL ang anumang paglabag sa mga patakaran ng customs,” ayon kay Villaluna. “Magpapataw kami ng karampatang parusa base sa resulta ng aming imbestigasyon.”

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

Dagdag ni Villaluna, nakikipagtulungan sila sa customs sa pag-iimbestiga ng kaso, at pinaalalahanan na din nila ang kanilang mga tauhan na sundan lagi ang mga patakaran ng ahensya.

Ayon naman sa isang memorandum ng BOC, ang PAL crew ay lumabag sa Plant Quarantine Law (1978) dahil sa kawalan ng patunay na ligtas ang mga halaman sa anumang sakit, Presidential Decree 1433 dahil walang kinuhang pahintulot sa BOQ, at Sec 1404 ng Customs Modernization and Traffic Act dahil sa hindi pagdeklara ng mga produkto.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

Base sa paunang imbestigasyon ng BOC at NAIA, nakita ang mga produkto sa bagahe ng crew nang inspeksyunin ang mga ito pagdating nila sa Maynila. Hindi nila dineklara ang mga dala sa ipinasa nilang customs declaration form.

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!

Maginaw na umaga, babalik nitong Linggo

 

Mahamog na sa Sai Kung. (HK Observatory photo)

Kung medyo uminit at maalinsangan sa mga nakaraang araw, bukas (Linggo) naman ay babalik ang maginaw na umaga, ayon sa Hong Kong Observatory.

Ang paglamig ng panahon ay dahil sa pagbaba pa-timog ng cold front na nasa kalagitnaan ng Guangdong, papunta sa mga baybaying lugar na gaya ng Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Ang maaliwalas at maaraw na papawirin ay mapapalitan din ng maulap na panahon, na may manaka-nakang pag-ulan.

Mapapansin ng mga sumasakay sa ferry na magiging mas mabagal ang biyahe nila.

Ito ay dahil nag-abiso ang Marine Department sa mga kapitan ng barko na bagalan ang kanilang sasakyan upang makaiwas sa aksidente.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Magiging mahamog ang kapaligiran kaya dalawang milya na lang ang layo bago magkakitaan ang mga barko sa laot, dagdag nito.

Ayon din sa Observatory, bababa sa 13 degrees Celsius ang temperatura sa umaga bukas, na bababa pa hanggang 11 degrees sa susunod na tatlong araw, o hanggang Miyerkules.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Magsisimulang umaraw ulit sa Huwebes, kaya ang tempertura ay tataas sa 14 degrees. Magging ganito ang inaasahang panahon hanggang sa susunod na Lunes.

Ang bugso ng hangin, na magmumula sa hilaga, ay lalakas din.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

Samantala, ang Centre for Health Protection (CHP) ng Department of Health (DH) ay nagbabala na ang malamig na panahon ay kalimitang nagpapasimula o nagpapalubha ng sakit, lalo na sa mga matatanda.

Ito ang pinayo nga CHP, lalo na doon sa mga may pangmatagalang sakit:  

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

• Laging magsuot ng makapal na damit.
• Kumain nang sapat, dahil nakadadagdag ito sa init ng katawan.
• Mag-ehersisyo nang regular upang mas malakas dumaloy ang dugo at mapa-init ang katawan.
• Maglagi sa mga lugar na may tamang init at huwag magpatagal sa labas.
• Gumamit ng heater kung kailangan pero siguruhing maayos and bentilasyon sa bahay.
• Magpatingin agad sa doctor kung may dinaramdam.

 

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!

15 people arrested in latest anti-illegal work sweep

By The SUN

 

Among those arrested were 6 women non-refoulement claimants

A total of 15 people were arrested during a four-day operation by the Immigration Department to combat anti-illegal work in the city.

A statement released by the government on Friday said 10 suspected illegal works, four employers and one overstayer were detained during the “Twilight” and “Champion” raids held from Jan. 9 to Jan. 12.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The suspected illegal workers arrested during the "Twilight" raids comprised two men and six women, aged 22 to 49. All the women and one of the men were found to hold recognizance forms, which prohibit them from taking up any job.

The four others – three men and one woman aged 37 to 51, were suspected to have employed the illegal workers.

Pindutin para sa detalye

They were all arrested during a sweep of 14 target locations that included an industrial building, manicure shops, premises under renovation, a residential building, restaurants, retail shops and a wet market.

During operation “Champion” immigration officers raided 14 locations in Central, and arrested two suspected illegal workers, a man aged 34 and a woman aged 38. One female overstayer aged 32, was also arrested.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Immigration again warned that tourists who violate their visa condition by taking up employment, whether paid or unpaid, are liable to prosecution. Those found guilty could be imprisoned for up to two years and fine a maximum of $50,000.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

The penalty is more severe for those who take up illegal work while subject of a removal or deportation order, are refused to land, or classified as illegal immigrant. They face a maximum sentence of $50,000 fine and three years in jail.

Employers of illegal workers face the most serious consequences of up to $500,000 in fine and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

They are reminded that they must take all steps necessary to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. This could include checking their HKID card or valid travel document or making enquiries about their personal and work background.

 

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!

DMW team to visit HK for talks on caregiver jobs for Filipinos

By The SUN

 

DMW Secretary Susan Ople during meeting with HK Labour Chief Chris Sun

The Department of Migrant Workers in the Philippines will be sending a team to Hong Kong next month to start talks on the possible deployment of Filipino caregivers to the city.

DMW Secretary Susan Ople made the announcement yesterday, Jan 12, after talks on Monday with Hong Kong Secretary for Labour Chris Sun who visited the Philippines for three days to meet with various government officials and observe the training given by Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority).

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

During his visit, Sun mentioned Hong Kong’s decision to start hiring an additional 3,000 caregivers from abroad in the first part of the year, in line a resolution passed by the Executive Council on Dec 13 last year to address the acute shortage of workers at care homes for the elderly and disabled.

Hong Kong has set a quota of 7,000 for the hiring of imported workers for this sector, but 4,000 have already been filled by mainland workers.

Pindutin para sa detalye

The proposed salary for the imported workers range between HK$12,000 and HK$20,000, or from Php85,000 to Php140,000.

Ople welcomed the possibility of Filipino workers being considered for the caregiver posts.

“This would provide additional job opportunities for our caregivers, under conditions that value their skills and are cognizant of their rights and welfare,” she said in a statement.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

She however, stressed, that there are concerns that should be addressed first, like the need to train those to be deployed to speak Cantonese, which is the only language most of Hong Kong’s elderly understand.

Ople tapped Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation Patricia Yvonne Caunan to head the DMW team that will take up the matter in Hong Kong next month, but did not give a specific date for the visit.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

During her talks with Sun, Ople conveyed the Philippine government’s appreciation for Hong Kong’s effort to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

She also welcomed Hong Kong’s annual review of the minimum allowable wage of foreign domestic helpers, which now stands at HK$4,730, (or Php35,475).

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

Ople also proposed a collaboration between the Philippines and Hong Kong authorities on informing Filipino migrant workers on their rights and how they can seek assistance when they are in distress.

The latest data from Immigration show there are around 188,000 Filipinos working as FDHs in Hong Kong.

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!

Molested Indonesian helper files civil suit vs employer, recruiters

By The SUN

 

The case will be heard on Mar 23  at the District Court in Wanchai

An Indonesian domestic helper who was molested by her former employer has filed a civil claim against her abuser, the two employment agencies that placed her and their respective representatives, in a case that could have far-reaching implications for foreign domestic workers who are similarly situated. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The helper filed the case with the District Court on Wednesday and named as respondents her employer, a married senior manager at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; her employment agency in Indonesia, Sumber Makmur Trading Co. and its intermediary Yeung Chung Muk; as well as its Hong Kong counterpart, Home Care Employment Agency Limited and its licensed intermediary, Kiwi Lai. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

No amount was stated in the claim, which has been set down for hearing on Mar 23.

The claimant alleged that the employer had violated the Sex Discrimination Ordinance while the agencies and their intermediaries had failed to fulfill their contractual obligations to her.

The 56-year-old employer was found guilty of 13 counts of indecent assault against the helper in April last year, and sentenced to 36 weeks in prison. 

BUY NOW PRESS HERE

During trial, it was alleged that the employer had touched the helper’s thighs and shoulders, and even kissed her cheek and lips on 13 occasions between February and May, 2021 in his residence at Pak Sha Tsuen, Yuen Long.

According to the claim, the employer violated the Sex Discrimination Ordinance by sexually assaulting and harassing the helper. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

On the other hand, the two agencies and their representatives failed to fulfill their responsibilities to her, such as explaining her rights under the law; and not telling her to seek help from the police, Labor Department and the Equal Opportunities Commission after the assaults.

After the worker informed the agency representative about the first seven sexual assaults, she was told to trust her employer more. The agency staff also passed on to the employer a video clip of the molestation which the worker had secretly filmed. 

BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS NOW! PRESS FOR DETAILS

After this, the agent Lai prepared a document which she encouraged the helper to sign, in which she agreed to renounce her claim against her employer.  As part of the deal, the employer promised not to repeat the offence and offered the helper $3,000 in compensation.

When the helper hesitated, Lai told her that if she wanted to change employers she needed to return to Indonesia first, and there was no guarantee she would find a new employer. 

HOW TO AVAIL? PRESS HERE

The worker was forced to sign the document as she needed the job and still had loans to pay off.

After this, the employer asked the helper if she had deleted the video and she said yes, but in truth, she had not. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE 

Two months after their meeting at the agency, the employer started molesting the helper again. This happened six times more before the worker found the courage to finally escape.

PADALA NA!

Call us!

PRESS FOR DETAILS

CALL US!