‘Remittance stoppage’ won‘t just affect gov’t, Palace warns

PRESS CONFERENCE. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro highlights the government’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal drugs during a media briefing at the Philippine Information Agency auditorium in Quezon City on Friday (March 21, 2025). Castro also discussed the various benefits provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday warned that the planned “zero remittance week” by certain groups of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) supporting detained former president Rodrigo Duterte could have repercussions beyond the government.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro appealed for calm after groups like Maisug Croatia in Europe bared plans about a supposed week-long remittance stoppage in protest of the arrest of Duterte by the Interpol and his eventual imprisonment in The Hague, Netherlands.

Castro said the government was just enforcing the law in allowing the arrest of Duterte, who is facing crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his bloody war on drugs.

“Of course, mas gugustuhin po natin na maging mahinahon ang bawat Pilipino sa ganitong klaseng isyu. Sana po ay malaman din po nila na ang pamahalaan at ang gobyerno ay tumutupad lamang sa ating batas (Of course, we want our fellow countrymen to be calm about these issues.

We also hope for them to understand that the government was just following the law),” Castro said.

The Palace official added that some Filipinos who fell victim to Duterte’s drug war are also appealing for justice.

“Sana ay maging patas din po sila sa kanilang pananaw para po maibsan ‘no ang anumang puwedeng kahinatnan ng kanilang gagawin (Let’s be fair and be calm on the actions they are taking),” she added.

While Castro emphasized the importance of peaceful dialogue, she also pointed out the broader impact of the remittance halt, especially to families dependent on financial support from their loved ones abroad.

“Kung hindi po sila magkakaroon at hindi sila magri-remit ng kanilang mga maaaring ipadala sa mga pamilya nila, hindi lamang po gobyerno ang maaapektuhan, pati ang kanilang mga pamilya (If they will stop sending remittances, it will not just affect the government but their families as well),” she said.