DMW: Authorities say missing OFWs still in HK
Relatives of the two missing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong have shared leads with local authorities about their last communications before they disappeared on Oct. 4, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said on Wednesday.
Authorities believe the two remain in Hong Kong, as immigration records showed no indication that they had left the territory, Cacdac said in an ambush interview in Mandaluyong City.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday appealed for any information about the whereabouts of the missing OFWs who were identified as Imee Mahilum Pabuaya, 24, and Aleli Perez Tibay, 33. They were last seen in the Tsuen Wan District.
“We’ve already spoken to the families and we have endorsed the proper information to the authorities. There are certain leads regarding the last time they spoke with their loved ones. I’ll stop there for now because this might be sensitive [information] for the Hong Kong authorities,” Cacdac said.
According to him, the initial information they have so far was that the two were on their day off on Oct. 4 and they failed to return to their employers that same day.
Financial aid coming
“The Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, Admin PY Caunan’s team, is already on the ground talking to the families, assuring them of support [and] the necessary updates,” Cacdac said.
He added that financial assistance would also be extended later, but for now, the priority was to locate the two OFWs in coordination with Hong Kong authorities and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In a phone interview with reporters, Irene, the elder sister of Pabuaya, said her sibling posted a photo of a hiking spot in Hong Kong on Oct. 4, the day she went missing.
Pabuaya is the fifth among six siblings. She has been working in Hong Kong as a domestic helper for nine months, Irene said.
She recounted that around 5 p.m. on Oct. 4, her sister messaged her, saying she had sent money to their mother.
Last FB posts
She received no more messages from her sister and that same night, Irene said she took screenshots of Pabuaya’s “MyDay” posts on Facebook showing different places, including the Lung Mun Country Trail.
“It seems like they went hiking there because a lot of people are saying that the places in the screenshot are spots where hikers usually go. And from that point on, there were no more replies,” Irene said.
She appealed to the public to report any sighting of her sister, urging anyone with information to contact the authorities or message her directly on Facebook through her account “Irene SP.”
Information may also be relayed through official channels via telephone number +852 2866 0640, the DMW hotline 1348, or by email at mwo_hongkong@dmw.gov.ph.
