OFW group Migrante International criticized overseas supporters of Rodrigo Duterte, now calling for a ‘zero remittance week’, as misusing a legitimate form of protest by Filipino migrants for OFW rights and welfare. Some overseas Filipinos are calling to hold their remittances to the Philippines in support of Rodrigo Duterte, former Philippine president now detained in The Hague in the Netherlands on charges of crimes against humanity.
“We have zero tears for the mass murderer Rodrigo Duterte, who was rightfully remitted to The Hague,” said Josie Pingkihan, Deputy Secretary General of Migrante International. “Si Digong ay isang tiranikong pangulo na dapat lang makulong at mahatulang guilty.”
Migrante International and the International Migrants Alliance previously led Zero Remittance Day campaigns in 2008 and 2015, calling on overseas Filipinos to collectively oppose anti-OFW policies under the Arroyo and B.S. Aquino administrations:
- Implementation of OWWA Omnibus Policies that allowed OFW recruitment agencies to charge OFWs with higher fees;
- Plunder of OWWA funds for Arroyo’s electioneering;
- Tax hikes on balikbayan boxes, tanim-bala, and bukas-balikbayan box scandals;
- Neglect in providing assistance to OFW victims of exploitation and abuse.
“Pagbabaluktot at pambabastos sa nakaraang sakripisyo ng mga OFW itong ginagawa ng mga DDS ngayon,” said Josie Pingkihan, Deputy Secretary General of Migrante International. “Porma ng paglaban ng migranteng Pilipino ang Zero Remittance Day para sa ating karapatan at kagalingan, hindi ang pagdedepensa sa mga kriminal at mamamatay-tao.”
Migrante denounced calls to twist the historic Zero Remittance call for the personal benefit of former president Duterte, who has ‘a litany of crimes’ against migrants and the Filipino people.
“Ito ang tunay na danas ng migrante at taumbayan: niyurakan ni Duterte ang komunidad ng marami naming kapamilya sa Pilipinas,” said Pingkihan. “Puno siya ng bahid ng malawakang karahasan, korapsyon, katrayduran, at kriminal na kapabayaan.”
“Kahit kaming mga OFW ay lalong naghirap sa ilalim ni Duterte: lalo pa niyang pinagsamantalahan ang mga OFWs sa pagpapatupad ng mga patakaran tulad ng compulsory SSS at Philhealth,” continued Pingkihan. “Maaalala ni Mary Jane Veloso si Duterte sa pagaabandona sa kanya nang hindi kumikibo para pauwiin, palayain, at kilalanin ang kanyang pagiging inosente.””
Migrante called on overseas Filipinos to use the Zero Remittance call and other powerful forms of protest for the right reasons of advancing the rights of migrants and calling for genuine change in the Philippine homeland. Rather than defend Duterte, soon to turn 80 on March 28 while detained in The Hague, Migrante calls on Filipinos to join the upcoming March 28 protests to hold Duterte accountable for his crimes against the Filipino people.
