OFWs arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. —File photo from Reuters
MANILA, Philippines — Most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) probably won’t participate in the planned “zero remittance week” by the supporters of former President Rodrigo, Undersecretary Claire Castro of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Tuesday.
That was her answer when asked if the government had already studied what economic implications the OFW protest would entail.
READ: Palace urges calm as Duterte supporters eye ‘zero remittance week’
“As of the moment, the government has not yet considered this. What we know is that the OFWs will come up with their own decision,” said Castro in Filipino at a Palace press conference.
“We do not believe that they will be swayed by such calls, especially considering that their own families will be affected. Many comments suggest that they will not participate in these calls because they do not want their families to suffer and endure the consequences of political issues,” she added.
Castro reiterated that the government acknowledges that it would be up to the OFWs to choose whether to send remittances.
‘We are your allies’
She assured OFWs that the government does not plan to suspend benefits provided to OFWs, urging them to see the government as an ally.
“The government is not your enemy. We are your allies. What’s important is to stay vigilant and distinguish between fake news and the truth,” she said.
Asked if the Palace believed someone incited OFWs to stage the planned protest, Castro responded that Malacañang had not received such information.
However, Castro said, if there were people who instigated it, they would be subject to criminal liability, specifically, inciting to sedition.
“Why? This aims to undermine the administration’s operations. It will harm the country’s economy,” she said.
“But as we speak now, we do not see anyone we will file charges against. We are not yet in that situation,” she added.
The ICC currently has custody of former President Duterte after he was arrested and sent to The Hague for crimes against humanity he allegedly committed during his administration’s bloody war against drugs, which left at least 6,000 people dead, and human rights groups reporting at least 20,000 killed.
His arrest sparked outrage among Duterte supporters, including among OFWs.