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They seem so confident.
“Malacañang said that while it respects the decision of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to participate in a “Zero Remittance Day” protest, similar events in previous years did not affect the economy,” reports Kristine Angeli Sabillo on Inquirer.net.
Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. told Palace reporters: “Ang dating naging karanasan diyan ay noon pang 2013, ‘nung kasagsagan ng isyu ng PDAF o pork barrel [scam], at noon naman ay walang naiulat na masamang epekto ito. Kaya kung ‘yon ang pagbabatayan ay tila wala naman tayong dapat ikabahala hinggil dito (Our previous experience with that, in 2013 during the peak of the PDAF issue or the pork barrel scam, there were no reports that it had bad effects. So that is our basis when we say that we should not be bothered by such protests).”
(Note: PDAF refers to the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel fund.)
Still, Coloma said Malacañang “respects the right of OFWs to express their sentiments.”
On Tue, Aug 25, OFW group Migrante announced that it would hold a “Zero Remittance Day” on Aug 28 to protest the tax implemented on balikbayan boxes.
READ: OFW group Migrante sets Aug 28 as ‘Zero Remittance Day’
While saying they were “pleased” by Aquino’s order to stop the random inspection of balikbayan boxes, Mirgrante chair Connie Bragas-Regalado noted that “the Bureau of Customs (BOC) had earlier blamed monthly losses of PHP50 million, or PHP600 million annually, on ‘smuggled goods’ or ‘non-declared goods’ in balikbayan boxes.”
Photo: News clip
