PRRD warns real estate firms vs. hiring illegal foreign workers

BIZ LAUNCH. President Rodrigo R. Duterte greets Golden Topper Group Inc. Chairman Lam Kiu San during the Golden Topper Corporate Launch at the Aseana Business Park in Parañaque City on September 25, 2019. During the event, Duterte warned real estate firms against hiring undocumented foreign workers or trafficking illegal drugs. (King Rodriguez/Presidential Photo)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night warned real estate firms against hiring undocumented foreign workers or trafficking illegal drugs.

Duterte told executives that while he was confident about the success that would arise from business ventures, he did not want these firms to employ illegal foreign workers.

“While I recognize the potential of these projects to help the Philippines withstand future challenges in the global [economic] setting, I nonetheless stress that your buildings should never serve as a haven for undocumented foreign workers or for the manufacture of and trafficking of illegal drugs,” Duterte said during the corporate launch event of real estate firm Golden Topper in Parañaque City.

“This is in line with this administration’s unrelenting commitment towards the eradication of corruption and illegal drugs in this country. I am sure that [you are] with me in this drive, especially considering [that] criminality and illegal drugs are detrimental to the good business,” he added.

Duterte also warned them against committing other crimes noting that there would be no problem as long as they play by the rules.

“Let us be very clear. You can come, you can play your trade, you can commit your crimes. But if I catch up with you, it is dead or alive. Preferably dead. Alive, I have to feed you. There’s a rice crisis in this country,” Duterte said.

“We just obey… There are rules to be followed. Just obey the rules and nobody is going to disturb you. Nobody is going to molest you. Nobody is going to well ask for this and ask for that,” he added.

As long as they pay the right taxes and salaries, Duterte assured them of a good return on investment.

“You come and do business and make your profit, as many as you can and as plenty as you can. In that way, you can help the Filipino worker find jobs. That is my only gain there. Not so much about taxes. It’s employment generation for my brother Filipinos,” Duterte said.

“So go ahead. Make money. Make your profit. Pay the right taxes, pay the laborers the right salaries, and then I will assure you that your return of investment, your ROI, you can get it anytime you want. That is the long and short of my guarantee to you,” he added.

Moreover, he expressed confidence that the launch of their projects would be instrumental in the administration’s thrust to attain progress by investing in infrastructure development.

Be more assertive

Duterte lamented how investors shied away from Southeast Asian countries because of corruption, noting that it killed investment priorities or opportunities in the country.

However, he assured them that he would continue to minimize or altogether remove corruption until the end of his term.

“I do not tolerate corruption. I hate corruption. And I will go out of my way to punish people who are into graft and corruption,” Duterte said.

The President urged them to be more “assertive”, assuring them that that they could come to him anytime to report corruption.

“This is my sincere offer. I am willing to wake up late in the night. I am willing to be disturbed in my sleep but please do it because it will help my country. And what is a lack of sleep or an interrupted rest so long as it will help the country, I am willing to go to the rigors of the exercise of talking to you. Huwag kayong mahiya (Don’t be ashamed),” Duterte said.

“That is the only way where you can help me and you can help yourself from harassments, from oppressors, extortionists. Be assertive because whether you are a Filipino or an alien, you must stand for your rights. And in my country, I would be very happy for as long as you are doing it right and I said be assertive and do not succumb or surrender to the corrupt people,” he added.

Duterte said corruption in the country persists because Filipinos lack assertiveness.

“The only reason why there is a lot of corruption in the Philippines is because we are not assertive. And Filipinos if they are asked money by those in government, they easily give because, one, they are afraid of being denied or delayed,” Duterte said.

Duterte, meanwhile, said that they could also report their complaints to his former aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

“So you can go to him, he’s in Congress, and you report to him or to anybody else anyone, anyone at all, any military, police, from the Office of the President, from the Office of Immigration, and what else if you are being extorted or being asked of money,” Duterte said.

Golden Topper, established in 2017, is the brainchild of a famous Hong Kong mining group, according to its Facebook page.