MANILA, Philippines — The two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) reported missing in Hong Kong have been found safe and are now under the care of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO)-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed on Friday.
“The two missing OFWs in Hong Kong have been found and taken to the MWO-OWWA office in HK. They were picked up from a police station and are safe and sound,” Cacdac said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The OFWs were identified as Imee Pabuaya, 24, and Aleli Tibay, 33. Pabuaya last contacted her family on October 4. The DMW said it was informed of their disappearance four days later. Cacdac added that the pair are set to be repatriated soon.
Found After Going Missing on Hiking Trail
During an online briefing, Cacdac said the two were located on Thursday night, October 16, after the MWO Assistant Labor Attaché received a call around 10:20 p.m. that they had been found and taken to Shatin Police Station in Hong Kong.
According to initial reports, the two went missing while hiking along the Lung Mun Country Trail. “’Yun ang sabi nila, ‘yun ang version nila kaya’t lalo pa nating kakausapin ‘yung dalawa patungkol sa detalye,” Cacdac said, adding that both will give a sworn statement once the investigation concludes.
The DMW chief also confirmed that the two have received psychosocial counseling and financial assistance from OWWA.
Terminated from Employment
Following their disappearance, both workers have reportedly been terminated from their jobs in Hong Kong. “Usually, the course of action of the employer is to report and, after a certain period, terminate. So ‘yun ang nangyari sa ngayon,” Cacdac explained.
Despite this, Cacdac said the OFWs are expected to collect their belongings and speak with their employer in an attempt to clarify their situation. “We stand ready to repatriate them, of course,” he assured.
