By Charlie Lagasca Updated June 05, 2009 12:00 AM
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Rep. Carlos Padilla is calling on his fellow congressman to honor a Filipina worker in Hong Kong who despite her sad plight, returned the equivalent of P2.1 million in cash and checks she had found in a trash bin.
Padilla, of this province’s lone congressional district, filed House Resolution 1212 last Monday seeking commendation for Mildred Perez, an unemployed overseas worker in Hong Kong.
Padilla said Perez, 38, who hails from Barangay Aliaga in Bambang town this province, should be lauded for her “honesty and trustworthiness” in returning HK$350,545 in cash and checks, which she found in a trash can somewhere along Porringer street and Des Voeux Road in Hong Kong.
The 13-member provincial board led by Vice Gov. Jose Gambito unanimously passed a resolution the other day extolling Perez for “her display of honesty” which it described as “a trait of a true Vizcayano.”
For her part, Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma said Perez, her townmate, deserves full assistance on her status overseas.
Just like any Filipino, Padilla said Perez tried her luck as a household helper in Hong Kong three years ago to give a decent life to her two children.
She, however, found herself jobless after she filed a sexual harassment case against her employer.
Under Hong Kong law, a domestic helper who is either a victim or the subject of a sexual harassment case is temporarily banned from being employed while the case is pending. She can stay though in Hong Kong provided she updates immigration authorities on her status.
Padilla said Perez is surviving with the help of other Filipinos in Hong Kong and by collecting aluminum cans to sell.
“In her present condition, Ms. Perez could have just taken the cash and used it to go home to the Philippines since it was more than enough for her to start a new life back home, but she didn’t think twice about returning the money,” he said.
In his resolution, Padilla said Perez, along with a companion, found the envelope containing the cash and checks last April 29 while they were scrounging for things they could sell in the trash bin.
Finding the cash and checks, she and her companion “immediately called up the Hong Kong Information Center to get the number of the company indicated in the documents,” saying they wanted to return the money, Padilla said.
He said Perez found HK$176,000 cash in HK$1,000 bills, and four checks for US$3,250, US$5,000, US$13,000, and HK$10,920. |