Statement Delivered by DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez Regarding the Hong Kong Visa Sanctions Against the Philippines

January 30, 2014

The Philippine Government regrets the Hong Kong SAR Government’s implementation of sanctions against the Philippines, particularly, the requirement of visas for Philippine official and diplomatic passport holders which is usually given to government officials on official travel to Hong Kong. The sanction is unfortunate because a substantive closure on the Quirino Grandstand Incident had already been arrived at three years ago with the previous Hong Kong SAR Government and the victims as well as their families.

A renewed appeal for compassion was directly made to our government last October 2013. We responded to this appeal without equivocation and in a most generous manner. Additional tokens of solidarity have therefore been pledged by the Filipino people at the behest of the Philippine government. These amounts that are being offered are substantially more than those that have been previously accepted by the victims and their families. We have been made to understand that the victims and their families have agreed to this offer.

The public is hereby advised to exercise due diligence and caution in dealing with unverified parties to avoid being victimized by these scams. Be aware that business companies with international dealings rarely hire employees solely on the basis of a curriculum vitae but will always require personal interviews. Prospective employees should likewise be wary of job offers from individuals who ask for monetary fees for testing or processing of documents prior to employment because this is a sure sign of a scam.