Page 13 - SEPTEMBER 2017 A ISSUE

September 2017 – No. 17 • UK & Europe Edition
Employers of Pinay maid who jumped
to death in China arrested in HK
HONG KONG police have arrested
the employers of Lorain Asuncion,
the Filipina domestic helper who
supposedly jumped to her death in
Shenzhen, China, last July, according
to a report on Asia Times.
The two, identified only through
their surnames Gu and Liu, were
arrested over charges of conspiracy
to defraud, as they reportedly hired
Asuncion to work for them in Hong
Kong but took the Filipino to work in
Liu’s father’s home in Shenzhen about
five times.
Liu’s father took Asuncion back to
Shenzhen with him on July 22 without
the two, the report said. The Filipina
supposedly jumped from the seventh
floor of a building two days later.
Police suspect that the couple gave
false testimonies to the immigration
department as they insisted that Asuncion
LIFE STYL E CHE CK D u t e r t e :
Mabilog’s house is like a palace
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on
Wednesday said Iloilo City Mayor Jed
Patrick Mabilog lives in a palace-like
house.
At the oath-taking of new police star
rank officials in Malacañang, Duterte
said he has ordered a lifestyle check on
Mabilog.
“Mabilog sent word that he wants
to talk to me. His house is like a
palace. Anak siguro ito ng mayamang-
mayaman,” he said.
Sought for his comment, Mabilog
denied that he lives in a palace-like
house.
“I have nothing to hide. My house,
while often described as a palace, is not
quite a palace. It is not as big as pictures
would make it appear. Last year I
opened our doors to the local media for
them to see the inside,” Mabilog said in
a statement.
He also said his wealth came
from his businesses prior to entering
would only work in Hong Kong.
While the two were able to post bail, about employers taking their helpers
they may face up to 14 years in jail and in Hong Kong to work full-time for
a fine of HK$150,000 or US$17,200
if they are proven to have made a
false statement to the Immigration
Department.
The barest of details were given to
Asuncion’s family by her employment
agency in Hong Kong on the same day.
Asuncion’s parents flew to Hong Kong
earlier this month to find learn more
about her death and shared that the
domestic helper told them of her fears
every time she was sent to the mainland. come forward out of fear of having their
“She was afraid because of the
language and when she was in
[mainland] China she did not have
access to social networks, so she
could not talk to us,” Susan Escorial,
Asuncion’s aunt, told the South China
Morning Post.
government service.
Duterte has repeatedly tagged
Mabilog to be involved in the illegal
drug trade. The Iloilo City mayor,
meanwhile, has repeatedly denied the
allegation.
On Monday, Duterte announced that
controversial Ozamiz City police head
Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido would
be reassigned to Iloilo City after the
death of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo
Parojinog Sr. in a reported shootout in
the city on July 30.
Espenido was also the police chief of were heavily damaged, torn down cornered by terrorists.
Albuera when Mayor Rolando Espinosa
was killed while in detention on Nov.
5, 2016. Another drug suspect inmate,
Raul Yap, was also killed at the time.
Parojinog and Espinosa were
also tagged in the illegal drug
trade by the President. n Trisha
Macas with Anna Felicia Bajo, RSJ, GMA
News | Published August 30, 2017 3:53 PM
Updated 6:07 PM
IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS www.hello-philippines.com 13
Asuncion’s death sparked debate
to the mainland or maids being hired
families in the mainland even when
such practices are illegal.
Danilo Baldon, an official at the
Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong,
said they received four reports in the
past month of domestic helpers taken
to work in mainland China for an
extended period of time.
Baldon admitted that it was difficult
to determine the extent of the crime
as domestic helpers were reluctant to
contracts terminated.
There are allegedly at least
5,000 Filipinos illegally working as
household service workers in China.
n Rie Takumi, KBK, GMA News | Published August
30, 2017 7:07 PM
P6M worth of cash, jewelry stolen from Manila condo
Among the items stolen were two
AROUND P6 million worth of cash and expensive wristwatches—a branded watch
jewelry was stolen from a Victoria de Manila and another one studded with real diamonds.
condominium unit Tuesday night.
Staff admitted that the high-rise
According to Bam Allegre’s report for residential building did not have any CCTV
“Balitanghali” on Wednesday, the robbers cameras installed on the 18th floor where
carted away P2 million and several pieces of the robbery happened.
jewelry worth P4 million.
The victim, who refused to be
The damaged lock on the unit’s door interviewed on camera, had no leads
indicated that it was forced open, based to the perpetrators, the TV report
on documentation from Scene of the Crime said. Published August 30, 2017 5:24 PM
Operatives.
On 100th day of conflict, military allows
media to cross bridge into Marawi battle area
ON Wednesday, the 100th day The military explained that the level which were at least 150 to 200 meters
of the conflict between government of destruction resulted from firepower away, could be heard by the media
troops and terrorist forces in Marawi on both sides. during their visit. They also witnessed
City, journalists were allowed to enter Although the government declared ambulances carrying wounded soldiers
and take a closer look at the main that the area was under control, armed back to the safe zone.
battle area. soldiers and tanks were the first to enter The military said the Maute group
As seen on Sandra Aguinaldo’s as a precaution. maintains strongholds in a few nearby
report for “Balitanghali,” several Authorities also hung a long blue buildings and at least three more
members of the media accompanied cloth along the bridge to prevent mosques, where they were reportedly
government troops in crossing the snipers from targeting the soldiers and keeping hostages.
Mapandi bridge, which served as civilians present. The armed conflict that started on
a boundary to what the military The journalists visited the site in May 23 prompted President Rodrigo
identified as the main battle area. Barangay Lilod Madaya, where 13 Duterte to declare martial law on the
Many structures across the bridge Marines were killed after they were entire island of Mindanao. n Margaret
Claire Layug, BM, GMA News | Published August
and collapsed. The fighting on the front lines, 30, 2017 3:48 PM