The two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were reported missing in Hong Kong since October 4 after a “wild hike” have been found safe and are now under the care of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Friday, Oct. 17.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said Imee Mahilum Pabuaya, 24, and Aleli Perez Tibay, 33, were located by authorities around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. They were last seen hiking along the Lung Mun Country Trail in Tsuen Wan on Oct. 4.

Hong Kong police brought them to the Sha Tin Police Station and upon coordination with Philippine authorities, they were escorted to the MWO office in Hong Kong before Friday midnight.

In a press briefing, Cacdac said Pabuaya and Tibay were already terminated by their employer although they will still be asked to explain the details of their misadventure.

“Ang napipinto ngayon is may medical checkup sila ngayong araw at naterminate na sila sa kanilang employer kaya’t kukunin na ang kanilang belongings sa kanilang employer. Pero bago pa man ito mangyari, susubukan nilang magpaliwanag sa kanilang employer kung anong nangyari. According doon sa dalawa, nawala daw sila due to wild hiking sa isang country trail (What’s expected to happen now is that they will undergo a medical check-up today and their employment has already been terminated so they will be retrieving their belongings from their employer. But before that happens, they will try to explain to their employer what really happened. According to the two, they got lost while wild hiking on a country trail),” Cacdac said.

He admitted that the details of the two OFWs’ hiking story were still unclear.

“Hindi pa malinaw ang kabuuang kwento. Ginagather pa natin ang sapat na detalye (The full story is still unclear. We are still gathering sufficient details),” he said.

Asked whether it was really due to a wild hike that the OFWs went missing, Cacdac replied: “Well ‘yun ang sabi nila, ‘yun ang version nila. Lalo pa natin kakausapin ang dalawa tungkol sa detalye and we will ask them to craft a sinumpaang salaysay (Well, that’s what they said, that’s their version of the story. We will talk to the two of them further about the details, and we will ask them to provide a sworn statement).”

He noted that the repatriation of the OFWs will be arranged if their employer decides not to rehire them after their discussion is finished.

“Rest assured, they are both in good condition, safe and sound, and now under the care of our Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong,” Cacdac said, adding that the OFWs also received psychosocial counselling.

Meanwhile, the DMW reminded all OFWs to take extra precautions when engaging in outdoor activities and to ensure proper coordination and communication with trusted contacts or government offices before leaving.

“It’s important for our fellow Filipinos to know how to contact our Migrant Workers Office, the Philippine Consulate General, and other hotlines in case of emergencies,” he emphasized.

The MWO-Hong Kong can be reached at +852 2866 0640 or via email at [email protected] for immediate assistance or inquiries.

Cacdac also acknowledged the efforts of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), led by Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, for promptly notifying the families of the two OFWs during the search and rescue operations.

“We thank our teams in Hong Kong and the local authorities there. Because of their swift action, our compatriots are now safe,” Cacdac concluded.