President Rodrigo Duterte insisted that the deployment ban of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to Kuwait will be sustained and opened the possibility of expanding it to other countries with reported cases of maltreatment of employees from the Philippines.
“The ban will continue, and it will extend to other countries. Mahirapan sila, well, humihingi na ako ng tawad sa inyo. Wala akong kaplano na ipadala kayo [overseas Filipino workers] doon tapos babuyin kayo. Hindi ko style ‘yan,” Duterte said in a speech before Filipino-Chinese businessmen at the Manila Hotel on Monday, GMA News reported.
Duterte once again underscored his demand to Kuwait and other Arab countries to treat their Filipino employees with dignity and respect.
“I repeat, the Filipino is a slave of nobody. The Filipino seeks to work abroad to earn a living so that he can help his family because the economy here, local, cannot absorb the entire workforce who would want to. The only thing that we ask is that you give us the dignity of a human being, you treat us humanely, be tolerant of our cultural differences and do not abuse our women because it will inflict a long and lasting wound. Maybe this generation cannot and will not forget it,” Duterte said.
The President added that he is ready to face the consequences of his decision to halt the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait following the deaths of seven OFWs, including the case of Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found inside a freezer inside an abandoned apartment in the Gulf state.
“Will it involve hardships? Yes. Will it involve sacrifice? Yes. Would it mean anger? Yes. To me, yes. Tanggapin ko lahat. I’m ready to admit everything but the ban stands,” Duterte said.
The President assured the returning OFWs that they will receive assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry.
“Umuwi lang kayo dito maski na papaano matulungan ko kayo maski sa pagkain. And maybe in the fullness of God’s time, if we can really improve the economy, I could give you livelihood projects,” he added.
Days ago, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said the repatriated OFWs from Kuwait will receive P5,000 financial assistance and an additional P20,000 aid for alternative livelihood.
Meanwhile, Malacañang announced that the President Duterte is expected to visit the wake of Demafelis in her hometown of Sara in Iloilo province within this week.
