Here’s Why Filipina Call Center Agent Jailed In Hong Kong for 6 Months
FILIPINA – A Filipina call center agent was jailed in Hong Kong for six months after joining a free expense tour.
We can’t deny that we sometimes have the feeling to spurge our money into something. Shopping, traveling or eating in a fine restaurant is the top of our list.
Also, we get excited each time we are offered to purchase something that’s usually expensive at a very affordable price.
However, it’s always better to be cautious and aware of our decisions because it might lead us to harm or danger.
Even if the person who was very close to us, we should inquire why it was offered free or a very cheap price.
Like the Filipina call center agent who trusted the godmother of her sister who gave her a 5 day all expense tour in Hong Kong.
Based on a report from GMA News, the 23-year-old call center agent named Maureen Gutierrez was tricked by the “insurance worker” last year.
She was given a five-day all-expense-paid tour in Hong Kong with P15,000 pocket money. She did not hesitate to accept the free trip since it was offered by her sister’s godmother.
According to the report, Gutierrez said she and her four other companions were fetched on the airport by a Chinese boss.
The call center agent said they were given instructions to follow and were forced to open a bank account in the afternoon.
“Paglapag namin sa Hong Kong, nag-antay lang kami sandali. Tapos mayroong dumating na Chinese boss nila, then sila nagbigay ng instructions, pinakain lang kami sandali, pinagpahinga kami. Tapos pinag-open na kami ng bank account,” she said.
Maureen Gutierrez said she was not informed that they should open a bank account and an employment contract in Hong Kong.
“Pagpasok po namin sa bangko, siya ang nag-provide ng information na employee kami ng ganitong kompanya sa Hong Kong. And then makakapag-open kami ng bank account for payroll. That day nakapag-open kami ng tatlong bank account,” she said.
The police arrived during their transaction and arrested them for ‘faking employment contract.’ She tried to contact the person who offered them the free trip but did not receive any reply.
“Nag-stay po kami sa police station for three days. Hindi po namin alam na sobrang laki noong kaso namin. Doon pa lang, pagpasok ng mga pulis, sinabi nila sa amin na hindi niyo ba alam na 2 1/2 years ang sentensiya sa ginawa niyo,” she said.
Based on the report, the call center agent and two others were jailed in Hong Kong for 6 months and was released in April this year.
Atty. Van Homer Angluben of NBI Special Task Force said they are investigating the complaint of the Filipina to prevent future incidents.
“Ang pagbubukas ng bank account, maaaring gamitin sa money laundering, pag-transfer ng pera mula Pilipinas papuntang Hong Kong, mga pera po na ito’y ilegal na kinokolekta. Tapos dinadala sa ibang bansa dun ginagamit,” he said.
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