CHIEF Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile on Tuesday night told overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to carefully consider the consequences of their actions amid a planned zero remittance scheme to support calls for the return of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippines.
Enrile, in a social media post, said “for every action, there is always a possible counter action.”
“This is a humble unsolicited reminder to our social and political leaders. Whoever advised Filipino OFWs to suspend the remittance of their earnings abroad to the country should think many, many times about the adverse consequences of that advice to our OFWs,” he said.
“I earnestly suggest to our OFWs to study carefully that advice to them before they get burned by it,” he added.
Enrile warned that Congress can retaliate at the OFWs by enacting laws that would suspend or cancel the tax breaks enjoyed by overseas workers.
He noted that Filipinos who work abroad are not charged income taxes on their earnings and are exempted from filing their income tax returns.
He said they also do not pay travel taxes, airport fees and are exempted from the documentary stamp taxes on their remittances.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, in a briefing, said Enrile was just highlighting the benefits being enjoyed by the OFWs along with other forms of assistance that the government is extending to them.
She said the government is not the enemy of the OFWs as she reiterated her call for OFWs, including supporters of Duterte, to remain calm and to consider all the facts before they take any actions or make any decisions.
“Siguro magmasid lamang sila at iwasan na maniwala sa mga fake news dahil kung sila po ay mauudyukan man ng mga ganitong klaseng panawagan at pagsasagawa ng mga activities laban sa gobyerno ay hindi lamang po ang gobyerno ang maaapektuhan kundi mismo ang kanilang pamilya (Observe first and stay away from fake news because if they are prompt by these kinds of calls and asked to do activities that are against the government, the impact would not just affect the government but also their own families),” she said.
The Maisug Croatia chapter said several overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) around the globe are planning not to send any remittances to the Philippines from March 28 to April 4 as part of their campaign to bring Duterte back to the Philippines.
Duterte is celebrating his 80th birthday on March 28.
In a statement, CBCP – Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) vice chairman Bishop Ruperto Santos also called on Filipinos abroad to reconsider their plans to hold a zero remittance week.
“I must express concern over the proposed zero remittance week as a form of protest. While I understand the emotions and frustrations that may have led to this initiative, I urge all involved to reflect on the broader implications of such an action,” said Santos.
“Let us seek peaceful and constructive ways to address our grievances without causing harm to our families and our nation,” he added.
The prelate said the planned action of some OFWs will affect their own families, who rely on remittances for their basic needs, education, healthcare, and a better quality of life.
“A halt in remittances, even temporarily, could disrupt the lives of these families, leaving them vulnerable and struggling to make ends meet. The very people we aim to protect and uplift may inadvertently bear the brunt of this protest,” said Santos.
He also noted how the OFWs’ remittances account for a significant portion of the national economy.
“Even a temporary disruption in this flow could have ripple effects, impacting not just the government but also local businesses and communities that rely on the economic activity generated by these funds,” he added. – With Gerard Naval
