Trial set for DH whose ATM card was used in money laundering

 

Accused DH insists she's innocent of the charge of money laundering

A Filipina domestic helper whose bank account ended up being used to launder more than $1 million in crime proceeds, reasserted her innocence today at Kwun Tong Court, setting the stage for a trial on Dec. 3.

Josephine Calabroso, 58 years old, was appearing in a pre-trial review when prosecutors introduced an amended charge sheet dated Oct. 24. After it was read to her, she declared that she understood it.

When asked how she would plea, she reiterated her not-guilty plea.

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She was then released on $3,000 bail.

Calabroso is accused of “dealing with property known or believed to be proceeds of indictable offense, contrary to section 25 (1) and (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.”

The charge sheet alleged that between Aug. 26 and Nov. 30 in 2020, a total of $1,025,366.26 flowed in and out of her bank account in Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd.

Details of how Calabroso got embroiled in the case were not discussed during the hearing, but in her police statement she said her newly-acquired ATM card and a bank letter that contained its PIN, were in her wallet when she lost it.

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CebuPac resumes direct flight between Iloilo and HK

 

Flight 5J 242 gets a water cannon salute before leaving Iloilo last night 

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific resumed its direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong yesterday night, Oct.27. 

Flight 5J 242 was given a water cannon salute as it left Iloilo airport at 11:06 pm, and arrived in Hong Kong at 1:35am early this morning.

From Hong Kong, Flight 243 of the Philippines’ second flag carrier headed back to Iloilo at 2:20am for the resumption of the return flight, and arrived there at 5am.

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The flights from Iloilo will be four times weekly, every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Flights from Hong Kong to Iloilo will be every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, following the same schedule.

To mark the milestone, CebuPac offered one-way promotional base fares for as low as P1 for direct flights between Iloilo and Hong Kong,  between July 26 and July 31, for flights from Oct 27, 2024 to March 29, 2025.

With the flight resumptions, CebuPac became the only airline to operate international flights from Iloilo.

The airline said the service could make air travel even more affordable and accessible for a wide range of passengers in the Visayas region.

Next month, it is scheduled to also resume direct flights to Singapore from both Iloilo and Davao.

Cebu Pacific currently operates flights to 35 domestic and 25 international destinations across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

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Filipino convicted of assault jailed pending drug report

 

Neighborhood where the assault happened (Google Maps photo)

A Filipino bartender scheduled to be sentenced at West Kowloon Court to do community service as a penalty for assaulting a local man, was instead detained today after his urine test showed traces of marijuana.

M. Tibio, 33 years old, will be in jail custody while waiting for the report of the Drug Abuse Treatment Center which Magistrate Gary Chu ordered after he adjourned the case to Nov. 11.

“CSO (community service order) is not recommended due to continued drug abuse,” Magistrate Chu said, noting the risks faced by other people who will be working with him.

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He cited the CSO report and the results of four drug tests he ordered after Tibio pleaded guilty during the previous hearing last Sept. 30.

Tibio was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm after he punched a male Chinese last June 23 on South Lantau Road, Pui O, in Lantau island.

Chu blamed his drug abuse for the incident, noting that he was also convicted of drug possession in 2020 and was fined $2,000.

Magistrate Chu also noted that he was living with his three children. “I am concerned that while you are taking drugs, I wonder how you are able to (take care of them),” he told Tibio.

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Terminated DH gets work as receptionist under HK’s ESLS program

 

Robelyn is living her dream, transitioning from domestic worker to receptionist in HK

Dreams do come true.

This is the message that Robelyn Molina Javar wants to relay to foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, especially those hoping to take on other jobs that would elevate their status, without having to leave the city.

Robelyn knows this only too well, as she used to work in Hong Kong as a domestic helper up until August this year, when she was granted a visa to work as a receptionist under the new Expanded Supplementary Labor Scheme  (ESLS) of the government.

Call it luck or perseverance, but 29-year-old Robelyn was already on the verge of calling it quits in Hong Kong for the second time after being terminated from her job, when she was offered the post of  Filipina receptionist.

Robelyn said she was taken aback by the offer, as it felt too good to be true. She has aunts who have worked in Hong Kong for a long time, and they never came close to having the opportunity to work in an office set-up, and for a much bigger pay.

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In line with Immigration requirements, she was offered a salary of $14,500 a month, with overtime pay and free accommodation. She was also guaranteed extra pay for overtime work. What was even better was she did not have to pay anything to secure the job.

“From being a domestic helper sabi ko imposible na magkaroon ng ganito. Feeling ko noon mataas ang ang expectations nila sa work na ibibigay ko sa kanila,” said Robelyn.

(Being a domestic helper I thought it would be impossible for me to get that kind of an offer. I felt that there would be high expectation of the kind or work that I could deliver).

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Despite getting up to third year of a hotel and restaurant management degree from Panpacific University in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Robelyn, who is a mother of two, also felt unsure about her qualifications for the job.

“Wala po ako talagang masyadong college credential kaya di po ako nag expect na ma approve noon ang visa ko para sa ganitong trabaho.”

(I did not have enough college credentials so I did not expect that my visa application for this job would be approved).

To the surprise of both Robelyn and her employer, Immigration’s approval for her ESLS application came less than two weeks after she submitted the required documents.

“God is really amazing,” Robelyn is wont to say.

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Labour Department figures show Robelyn is among nearly 29,000 foreign passport holders who have been granted a temporary two-year visa under the ESLS which was formally launched only in September last year.

According to figures furnished to the Legislative Council by Labour Secretary Chris Sun last Thursday, among those granted visas under the scheme as of September this year, 667 were receptionists.

The biggest number were waiters/waitresses, cooks and junior cooks, security guards and sales assistants, reflecting the severe manpower shortages in these fields.

But it would appear that Filipinos accounted for only a tiny fraction of the total ESLS approvals so far. According to Assistant Labour Attache Angelica Sunga at the Philippines’Migrant Workers Office, only 39 Filipinos had been granted work visas through the ESLS as of August this year.

This is what prompts Robelyn to keep encouraging her fellow Filipinos, especially those on foreign domestic helper visas, to aim higher, and look for jobs that will give them better pay and work conditions.

“Maraming mga Pinoy ang deserve ang mas magandang trabaho,” she said. “At Glory to God talaga na merong ganitong program ang Hong Kong para sa mga hindi naman nakatapos at hindi hinihingan ng maraming requirements,” she said.

(There are a lot of Filipinos who deserve a better job. It’s to God’s Glory that Hong Kong has this program for those who did not finish their studies, and are not asked for too many requirements).

But Robelyn is quick to admit that a lot will also depend on luck. She thus advises those on DH visas to start looking around for companies that might need workers with their qualifications and experience, or employment agencies that can connect them with such employers.

It is never too late to aspire for something better, according to her. And now seems to be the time to start doing something about that dream.

The ESLS was formally unveiled by the government in September last year to enhance or expand the coverage and operation of the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme (SLS), to include unskilled or low-skilled posts.

This was apart from previous efforts to address the severe manpower shortage in Hong Kong, including the launch of sector-specified labour importation schemes for such sectors as construction, transport, and residential care homes.

Under both programs, foreign workers are offered two-year contracts with salaries commensurate to those paid local employees, as well as free accommodation.

However, they do not qualify for permanent residency which requires seven years of continuous residency in Hong Kong.

(See related story here: https://www.sunwebhk.com/2024/10/waiters-cooks-cleaners-among-imported.html)

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Unemployed Pinoy gets 30 months’ jail for attempted robbery

 

Neighborhood in which the burglary was attempted

A Filipino who tried to enter a Hung Hom flat last year, has been sentenced by the District Court to 30 months in jail for attempted robbery.

Deputy District Judge Timothy Harry Casewell meted the sentence on Arnulfo de la Rosa, aged 47, after the Filipino pleaded guilty during a hearing Thursday (Oct. 23) at the Tsuen Wan Law Courts.

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De La Rosa, who is unemployed and has no permanent address, has been in jail custody since he was arrested shortly after the crime on Aug. 9, 2023.

A Police complaint accused him of attempting to enter a flat at Mei King Mansion on Mei King St., Hung Hom, “with an intent to steal therein.” No loss was reported as a result of the incident.

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The case was originally filed at Kowloon City Magistracy, where dela Rosa did not apply for bail, resulting in his detention for almost half of his sentence so far.

In a separate case at Shatin Court, a Filipina who holds a recognizance certificate for identification, was meted a 15-month jail sentence for working illegally.

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Arlene Suratos, 47 years old, was convicted also on Thursday of “taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order is in force,”in violation of the  Immigration Ordinance.

Suratos, who is applying for asylum in Hong Kong, is prohibited by the Immigration Ordinance from taking employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid.

She was charged after being caught by Immigration officers while doing odd jobs in a restaurant in Central last Sept. 9.

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T3 raised as Trami comes closer to HK

 

Trami is tracked as it moves closer to HK after lashing the Philippines

The Observatory raised No 3 typhoon signal at 10:40am today, as Tropical Cyclone Trami intensifies, and comes close to about 500 km of Hong Kong.

Earlier forecast said Trami would only come within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong on the way to Hainan, causing the T1 signal to be raised at 1:40am yesterday (Friday).

The T3 signal is expected to remain in force throughout the day today, but could be downgraded to T1 tonight or tomorrow morning, depending on its wind speed and distance from HK.

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Today’s weather is forecast to be mainly cloudy with occasional showers. Temperatures will range between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.

Typhoon Trami, called Kristine in the Philippines, killed at least 46 people in the country,  as it tore through 15 regions from Mindanao to Luzon, bringing heavy rain and widespread flooding, before exiting the Philippine area  of responsibility Friday morning.

At 11 am, Trami was estimated to be about 580 kilometers south-southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to move west at about 18 kilometers per hour across the central and northern parts of the South China Sea towards the seas south of Hainan Island.

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“Local winds are expected to strengthen gradually today. As winds will veer to the east later today, some places which have been sheltered before may become exposed,” the Observatory said.

However, with Trami forecast to depart later tonight, local winds are expected to  weaken gradually tonight to tomorrow.

In the meantime, the public is advised to stay away from the shoreline, and not to engage in water sports.

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The hoisting of the no 3 signal led to the suspension of several public events, including the 11^th Hong Kong Food Carnival at Kwai Chung Sports Ground. The fair was set to open today and run for nine days.

Hong Kong Disneyland said it will operate with limited resources while Ngong Ping 360 suspended cable services this morning, and will resume operation only when the weather improves.

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12 more persons arrested in anti-illegal work sweep

 

4 of those arrested are led away for questioning by Immigration officers

A total of 11 suspected illegal workers and one employer were arrested in a series of raids conducted by task force officers of Immigration Department over four days this week, from Oct. 21 to Oct. 24.

Those arrested  on suspicion of working illegally comprised seven men and four women, aged 27 to 58. One of them, a man aged 54, was found to hold a recognizance form, which prohibits him taking up work of any kind.

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The suspected employer, aged 52, was also arrested.

They were rounded up in a series of operations that targeted 28 locations, including flats under renovation, refuse rooms and restaurants.

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Immigration reiterated its warning that illegal work is a serious offence for which the maximum sentence is $50,000 fine and imprisonment of between two and three years.

The offense is deemed more serious when the illegal worker is a recognizance form holder, overstayer or illegal immigrant.

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Employers face a more serious penalty of imprisonment for up to 10 years and fine of as much as $500,000.

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Court acquits DH caught working in house of employer’s mother

 

The accused was found sweeping the floor in the house of her employer's mother

A domestic helper charged with violating the Immigration Ordinance after being arrested by police for working in the house of her employer’s mother, has been cleared after a trial at Shatin Court.

Deputy Magistrate Tai Kwan-hang ruled Thursday (Oct. 24) that Marivic Bumagat, 38 years old, did not breach her condition of stay-- to work as a domestic helper only in her employer’s house as specified in their employment contract -- when she was found to be sweeping the floor in the house of her employer’s mother last March 26.

The Immigration Department’s complaint had asserted that Bumagat violated the law because she performed “domestic duties…” at an address ”other than that approved by the Director of Immigration.”

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But Magistrate Tai gave weight to the argument of Bumagat’s defense lawyer in his summing up at the previous hearing, that the prosecution failed to prove that although Bumagat did perform domestic duties as alleged, she did not perform domestic helper duties for her employer’s mother.

Bumatay’s lawyer said she was found discarding rubbish and sweeping the floor and no doubt was performing domestic work.

But the person she was doing it for was included in the employment contract as a member of her employer’s household, and should be served as well, he added.

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In addition, the employer’s mother did not give instructions to her.

The lawyer also cited previous High Court rulings, which asserted that mere working does not prove an employment relationship, and that both parties should have fiduciary (or financial) duty and work arrangement for such relationship to exist.

In one the judgments he cited, the court reversed a magistrate’s ruling convicting Chinese visitors caught serving customers in a restaurant, because the owner was a cousin.

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Another High Court decision ruled that chopping up vegetables in a restaurant’s kitchen is not necessarily employment; there was evidence of relationship between those charged and the owner as cousins and friends.

In yet another judgment, the High Court reversed the conviction of a woman who was convicted for performing odd job duties, such as showing goods to customers of a shop, because there was not enough evidence to reach the inference that there was an order and following that order.

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Alumni of top Phl schools ‘ready to rumble’ in HK on Nov 9

 

Hong Kong-based alumni of four of the Philippines’ top universities are set to resume their friendly competition in fun games at the “Rambulan, UAAP Baranggayan sa Hong Kong” to be held on Nov 9 at Repulse Bay starting at 9:30am.

Those taking part are alumni of the University of the Philippines, led by Tess Turingan;  Ateneo University led by Joms Ortega;  De La Salle University led by Jaerey Velasco and Jan Yumul of University of Santo Tomas.

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The “Rambulan” was first held in 2014 at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park in Western District, for the purpose of building camaraderie and goodwill among alumni of member schools in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

It was followed up with another friendly competition the following year at Repulse Bay beach, this time, encouraging alumni to bring along their family members.

There followed a lull of several years, mainly due to the frequently changing composition of the various alumni groups, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Next month’s “Rambulan” will feature nine fun games,including  “Tipanic,” a Filipino twist to the classic “Boat is Sinking” contest; “Tono Henyo” or name that tune competition”; a three-legged race,” hula hoop relay, balloon popping game, a sustainable dress pageant, as well as a cheer dance competition.

Several fellowship gatherings were held by the four alumni groups in the run-up to the Rambulan, with the last one taking place on Oct 4 at Enoteca in Quarry Bay. 

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Three officers of the Philippine Consulate who are themselves alumni of the participating schools, joined the event: Consul Sheila Modenero-Arnesto, Vice Consul Allan Revote and Vice Consul Gino Soriano.

Aside from the usual fun games, a big-ticket raffle draw was held to raise funds for the Rambulan, with the top prizes being two economy class, round-trip tickets from Philippine Airlines, one of which was won by The SUN publisher and UP alumnus Leo A. Deocadiz.

The SUN's Leo Deocadiz receives one of 2 PAL return tickets from Consul Sheila Arnesto

Also raffled off were 4 vouchers from AFreight, two 50% discount vouchers for a spin trial class at  Seiileafi (Sey-leya'fi), two artworks from Kambal Gallery, vouchers from Potato Corner and San Miguel wireless chargers.

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Team Sarimanok, composed of alumni from different schools, won a series of fun games that tested contestants’ skill and dexterity. Four other mixed-member teams competed in the games that highlighted the gathering.

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First dinosaur fossils to be found in HK to go on display tomorrow

 

The first dinosaur fossils found in HK will go on display at Kowloon Park

The first-ever dinosaur fossils to be discovered in Hong Kong is set to be displayed at the Heritage Discovery Centre in Kowloon Park from tomorrow, Friday.

Officials announced yesterday that the priceless fossils, believed to date back to the Cretaceous period, about 145 million to 66 million years ago, have been discovered on Port Island in the northeastern waters of Hong Kong.

A Hong Kong-based paletontologist said earlier today that the discovery of dinosaur fossils in the city is a “momentous” achievement, and could lead to more exciting finds in the region.

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In an interview published by RTHK, Michael Pittman from the School of Life Sciences at Chinese University  said, "The discovery of these bones is super exciting because we have rocks of the right age and the right environment but having looked for so many years, different people have not been able to find dinosaur bones, including myself.”

Pittman added that the bones appear to have come from some larger dinosaurs. “I've seen pictures of models that are of long-neck dinosaurs and the hadrosaur dinosaurs, so these are among the biggest,” he said.

He also called the find “very lucky” since Hong Kong is not an ideal place for fossil preservation, as it had a lot of volcanic activity in the past.

Hong Kong’s topography and landscape also made finding dinosaur bones around here challenging as there isn’t much area to look for fossils, and the rocks are quite hard and do not readily erode out fossils.

"When we look for fossils, we typically go to a place where you can easily access them, and we focus on places where there are lots and lots of fossils, so it's rich in fossils and makes it easier,” he said.

But, he added China is one of four main countries in the world for finding dinosaur fossils, along with the United States, Canada and Argentina.

A Chinese expert asked to study the fossils at Port Island 

The historic find was unveiled at the signing of a framework agreement on deepening exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong’s Development Bureau and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthoropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

As early as March this year, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department relayed the information that the sedimentary rock on Port Island in the Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark, might contain vertebrate fossils.

The government then commissioned experts from IVPP to come to Hong Kong and conduct field investigation, study fossils and recommend management plans and follow-up actions.

After doing a preliminary scientific analysis, the experts determined that the specimens were bone fossils of large aged dinosaur. Further tests confirmed that the fossils dated back to the Cretaceous period, which lasted up to 145 million years ago.

Further studies will be conducted to confirm the dinosaur species.

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Storm leaves 24 dead in PH but will barely be felt in HK

 

Naga City underwater

Tropical Storm Kristine, international name: Trami, blew out of Northern Luzon this afternoon, leaving behind at least 24 dead scattered in a swathe of destruction caused by floods brought by heavy rains it dumped on most of the country.

The storm hit land in Isabela after midnight  today, and has established an east-ward path that aims for Hainan Island and would take it within 800 kilometers south of Hong Kong, which could prompt the Hong Kong Observatory to raise the standby signal No. 1 by 4 a.m. tomorrow.

Kristine started causing damage days before while it was hovering east of Luzon, by drenching Quezon Province and the Bicol region with two months’ worth of rain in 24 hours, and triggering landslides and floods that reached up to the second floor of houses. Lahar from Mayon Volcano cascaded down to lower areas, burying farms and vehicles.

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More than 2 million people were affected by the storm, including 75,400 villagers who were displaced from their homes and are sheltering on safer ground, according to the government’s disaster-mitigation agency.

A total of 7,674 passengers were stranded in ports nationwide as of this noon as sailings were suspended due to rough seas, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) .

Most of the fatalities were due to drowning in Bicol, where at least 20 people died, including 7 residents in Naga city, and the toll was expected to rise as isolated towns and villages in other areas manage to send out reports, the Associated Press reported.

Relief gods assembled by Angat Buhay

As this developed, rescue efforts have peaked, with non-government organizations like Angat Buhay, headed by former Vice President Leni Robredo, bringing relief goods and hot meals to flood victims as first responders.

In Hong Kong, 26 OFW organizations have joined hands to gather relief goods to be sent to the flood victims in a project they called Relief Operation Tulong #Bagyong Kristine Ph.

They are calling on their members to bring whatever they could donate -- food items, clothing, personal hygiene products, etc. -- to their assembly point in front of Prada on Chater Road, where they would be picked up by LCSN Express Hong Kong Limited which donated door-to-door boxes.

They are also accepting cash donations.

Logos of participating OFW groups

Bicol police chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon and other officials said about 1,500 police officers have been deployed for disaster-mitigation work.

“We can’t rescue them all at once because there are so many and we need additional motorboats,” Dizon told AP. “We’re looking for ways to deliver food and water to those who were trapped but could not be evacuated right away.”

Ex-VP Leni Robredo (on the back of the boat) leads relief operations in Naga

The storm will barely be felt in Hong Kong, with the Observatory expecting mainly fine weather tomorrow, with temperature ranging from 23 to 29 degrees, becoming cloudy with showers at night.

It will be windy with a few showers on Saturday and on Sunday. Winds will weaken gradually later on Sunday. Showers are still expected on Monday.

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