OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino on Wednesday, March 26, asked the government to spare overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the country’s current political tension amid possibilities of suspending their tax exemption.

President Marcos’ legal counsel, Juan Ponce Enrile, warned that Congress might retaliate if OFWs suspend their remittances to their loved ones in the country as an act of protest to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.

"If such an advice [to suspend remittance] is followed by some OFWs, what will happen should Congress, for instance, retaliate and cancel or also suspend the tax privileges of the OFWs that follow the advice?" Enrile said.

For Magsino, both administration and the opposition must not drag OFWs into the current political rift.

She says migrant workers' hard work is devoid of any political color, and that they only represent themselves as Filipinos in other countries.

"Bilang mga Pilipino, malaki na ang ambag nila sa ating bansa at lipunan (As Filipinos, they have already contributed a lot to our country and to the society)," she said.

"Kaya't aking pakiusap na huwag tayong mangunang idamay sila sa mga isyung pampulitika at kultura ng pagtutunggalian (That's why I'm asking the government not to drag them into political issues and the culture of rivalry)," she added.

Instead, Magsino says it is necessary to pay attention to the migrant workers' welfare as well as ensure that their voices as Filipinos are heard with respect and justice.