Diseases top cause of death of Pinoys in HK
Philippine Consulate General in Admiralty
AS of the first half of the year, more than 40 Filipinos died in Hong Kong, data from the Philippine Consulate General show.
Attaché Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr. of the Assistance to Nationals section told Hong Kong News, that out of the 43 Filipino nationals who died in the city, two were work-related, and two were identified as suicide cases, and the rest were because of various illnesses.
“Mas madami sa mga namamatay ay dahil sa sakit kaya’t dapat po ingatan natin ang ating mga katawan. Kung may nararamdaman sila, at kung hindi sila dalhin sa hospital ng mga amo nila, maari silang makipag-ugnayan dito sa konsulado,” Cayabyab said.
He added that Filipinos could contact Hong Kong’s emergency services by calling “999”. The consulate, meanwhile, could be contacted thru telephone number 2823-8500.
Meanwhile, Assistance to Nationals Officer Danilo Baldon said there was no schedule yet when the remains of a 34-year-old Filipino gardener who allegedly committed suicide would be repatriated. The Filipino was reportedly found dead hanging from the ceiling of his bedroom in his employer’s home in Deep Water Bay on July 3.
“His brother, who also works in the same employer as a driver, is here,” Baldon said.
This is the second reported case of suicide of Filipinos in Hong Kong this year.
On March 2, a 38-year-old Filipino was also found dead hanging from a window of his bedroom in his home he shared with his wife and daughter in Wan Chai.
The victim, who was working as a bouncer in Wan Chai, was taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
n 2016, six Filipinos committed suicide. Five out of the six suicide cases were allegedly because of debt-related problems.
Meanwhile, on Feb. 27, one Filipino worker – Norman Padilla – fell to his death while dismantling one of the carnival rides at the Central Harbourfront.
On June 15, Filipino domestic worker Rodolfo Villaruel died in a traffic accident in To Kwa Wan.
Prior to Villaruel’s death, four Filipino workers in Hong Kong died while performing their job since 2015.