Pinoys opt to remain in HK despite protests

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong have not asked to return home despite the monthslong mass protests that have turned violent.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III pointed this out as he denied false news in social media that the government has supposedly banned the deployment of workers and ordered a mandatory repatriation from China’s special administrative region.

“There is yet no order for mandatory repatriation or deployment ban for Filipino workers in Hong Kong. I urge the public to ignore this fake news on the internet,” Bello stressed. Despite the escalating protests, no overseas Filipino worker in Hong Kong has asked to be repatriated, according to Bello. —Dona Z. Pazzibugan