Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA)

It has been reported that the Philippines Consulate General in Hong Kong has forwarded a number of notarized complaints about the illegal lending and money laundering activities of FamilyHan Credit Corporation to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

I would like to request clarification over whether DFA has received these complaints, if so - how many? Further, what actions under what authority will DFA take?

It is my understanding that the complaints relate to laws currently enforced by the SEC, NPC, AMLC, and NBI. Will the DFA coordinate with these bodies?

October 30, 2020

Dear Grace A.,

Thank you for your request dated Oct 16, 2020 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Notarized Complaints Against FamilyHan Credit Corporation.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

Dear Ms. Graciadas,

Thank you for your requests logged via the FOI ePortal on 07 October 2020 on information for the following items: 

policy of HK-PCG in handling criminal complaints of Filipino nationals; policy on the protection of victims of illegal lending syndicate from the retaliation of illegal lenders; and policy or document of HK-PCG advising OFWs that they should not report suspected violations of Hong Kong SAR Law to the Hong Kong Police Force; Notarized affidavits

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is constrained by law from issuing copies of the aforesaid documents to the public. The Freedom of Information (FOI) provides that “exceptions to the right of access to information” include the following:

Item 3. iv. – “Information concerning law enforcement and protection of public and personal safety: unjustifiably disclose investigative techniques and procedures”; and 

Item 4: “Information deemed confidential for the protection of the privacy of persons and certain individuals such as minors, victims of crimes, or the accused.”

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.