Malacañang has urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to reconsider withholding their remittances for a week, warning that such an action would not only impact the government but also their own families.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized in a press briefing on Tuesday that OFWs should remain calm and exercise restraint amid the controversy surrounding former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Of course, mas gugustuhin po natin na maging mahinahon ang bawat Pilipino sa ganitong klaseng isyu. Sana po ay malaman din po nila na ang pamahalaan at ang gobyerno ay tumutupad lamang sa ating batas,” said Castro.
“Kung hindi po sila magkakaroon at hindi sila magri-remit ng kanilang mga maaaring ipadala sa mga pamilya nila, hindi lamang po gobyerno ang maaapektuhan, pati ang kanilang mga pamilya. So, sana po ay maging mahinahon tayo sa ganitong mga klaseng issues,” she added.
Some OFW groups, such as Maisug Croatia in Europe, have announced plans for a week-long remittance boycott in protest of Duterte’s alleged arrest by Interpol and his potential imprisonment in The Hague, Netherlands.
“Sana ay maging patas din po sila sa kanilang pananaw para po maibsan ‘no ang anumang puwedeng kahihinatnan ng kanilang gagawin,” Castro added. (We hope they will also be fair in their perspective to mitigate any possible consequences of their actions.)
In a Facebook post, the Maisug Croatia group stated that the Marcos administration must recognize its “grave mistake” against Duterte.
“A week of zero remittances will send a strong message. This is a significant loss for the Philippine economy, and the administration must heed the call of OFWs,” the group said.
