Malacañang has reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that the government is not an enemy but an ally, telling them to be sensible enough over the planned zero remittance week of OFWs— an act of support for embattled former president Rodrigo Duterte.
"[H]indi po tayo kalaban, magkakakampi po tayo, pare-pareho po tayong mga Pilipino (We are not your foe, we are your ally, we are all Filipinos)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, March 26.
This as Castro said that the Palace has no information whether or not there were people who advised the OFWs to join in the non-remittance week campaign slated on March 28 to April 4.
"Kung may nag-uudyok po siguro po wala tayong personal na knowledge, wala rin pong nakakarating na opisyal na komunikasyon patungkol diyan sa Palasyo (We have no personal knowledge if there are people advising OFWs, there is also no official communication about this reaching the Palace)," Castro said.
While she cited that many Filipino migrant workers are not keen on participating in the week-long campaign, the Palace official reiterated the possible implications the action might cause not just to the country's economy, but especially to their families.
She encouraged them to be wise in dealing with such matters and reminded them to be vigilant over fake news.
"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 (Perhaps they just have to be vigilant and avoid falling prey to fake news because if they are persuaded by these kinds of calls and activities against the government, it is not only the government that would be affected but also their families)," Castro said.
'It's their choice'
Although the government strongly advises OFWs to rethink their decision in holding off their remittances for a week, the Palace recognized that it was still up to them.
The government will not prevent them from joining the action either, Castro said.
"Choice po kasi ng OFW kung sila ay magpapadala ng kanilang remittance o hindi. Wala po tayong hahadlangan kung anuman ang kagustuhan nila pero muli tayo ay mananawagan sa mga OFWs, ang gobyerno po ay hindi ninyo po kalaban, kami po ay kakampi (It's their choice to send remittance or not. We will not prevent them from doing what they want, but again we are calling on OFWs, the government is not your enemy, we are your ally)," Castro stressed.
Castro also believes that OFWs are not easily swayed by such calls for action, pointing out that many OFWs do not want their families to be affected by political issues.
Inciting sedition
While the Palace has no information whether there are people advising OFWs to suspend their remittances, Castro said it can be considered as an act of inciting sedition if there were indeed people persuading OFWs to carry out the plan.
But the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) undersecretary said the government is not yet at a point where it sees the need to file a case against anybody.
"Sa ngayon po, of course, kapag po ito ay nag-uudyok, mayroon po tayong sinasabing mga inciting to sedition (For now, of course, if this is motivated, we have what we call inciting to sedition)," she said.
"Bakit? Ito po ay gustong sirain ang pagpapatakbo ng administrasyon. Ito ay makakasira sa ekonomiya ng bansa. Pero as we speak now, wala po tayong nakikita na ating sasampahan ng kaso – wala pa po tayo sa ganiyang sitwasyon (Why? Because this is an effort to derail the administration. This will affect the country's economy. But as we speak, we do not see filing a case against anyone, we are not yet in that situation)," Castro said.
READ MORE: Palace on OFWs' non-remittance week: Your families will also get affected