Lost while hiking, 2 missing Hong Kong-based OFWs found
MANILA, Philippines — The two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were earlier reported missing in Hong Kong have been found safe after getting lost while hiking.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said Friday, Oct. 17 that the workers were identified as 24-year-old Imee Mahilum Pabuaya and 33-year-old Aleli Perez Tibay, who were last seen on October 4 and officially reported missing on October 14.
At a virtual press conference, Cacdac said the two were located and brought to a Hong Kong police station on Thursday night.
“Nawala sila sa hiking on a certain trail, Lung Mun Country Trail,” he said. (They went missing while hiking on a certail trail, the Lung Mun Country Trail.)
Pabuaya and Perez are now under the custody of the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong, where they underwent a welfare check.
Cacdac said the department is still gathering more details about the incident and expects the two to submit a written account of what they experienced.
“At this point, what matters most is that they are safe,” Cacdac said.
Employers terminate contracts. Cacdac confirmed that the two OFWs have been terminated by their employers after failing to return from their day off — a standard procedure under Hong Kong labor regulations.
“Usually ang course of action ng employer dun is to report and after a certain period of time na sa discretion ng employer is to terminate. So yan ang nangyari ngayon,” Cacdac said. (Usually the course of action of the employer is to report and after a certain period of time, it is at the discretion of the employer to terminate. So that is what happened for now.)
The two will be allowed to retrieve their belongings, and the department will coordinate further discussions with their employers, Cacdac said.
No signs of foul play. As far as the DMW is aware, the case appears to be an isolated incident, with no records of previous issues involving the two workers or their employers.
Te department will repatriate the two if needed.
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