The two Filipina overseas workers earlier reported missing in Hong Kong have been found and are now under the care of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary confirmed Friday. 

In a press briefing, Cacdac said the two Filipinas, identified as 24-year-old Mahilum Pabuaya and 33-year-old Aleli Perez were located Thursday night at around 10:30 p.m and were brought to MWO-Hong Kong around midnight, where they were provided psychosocial counselling. 

“Our MWO assistant labor attaché received a call from our case officer informing that the two had been found and brought to a police station in Hong Kong, in Sha Tin Police Station,” Cacdac said. 

The workers have also been terminated by their employers after failing to return to work following their day off on 4 October, a Saturday, which was also the last day they were seen.

“Usually, the course of action of the employer is to report, and after a certain period of time, it is within the discretion of the employer to terminate.”

Cacdac added that the two told authorities they went hiking when they went missing. However, he said the full details of their account remain unclear and that the workers will be asked to write a sworn statement to clarify what happened.. 

Neither of the two OFWs had any prior record of filing a complaint against their employer.

The two are scheduled to undergo medical check-ups on Friday. Cacdac said the workers will still be given a chance to explain their side to their employer, but in case they are finally terminated, arrangements will be made to retrieve their belongings and for their possible repatriation.