Malacañang on Wednesday strongly pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte’s allegation that distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been left without aid from the government, branding her statement as “another fake news.”
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, citing information from Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, stressed that Migrant Workers Offices in countries with the largest OFW populations are actively addressing concerns.
“According to the records of the DMW [Department of Migrant Workers], they are able to respond to one hundred percent of those who ask them for help, and they have records of it,” Castro said. She added that the DMW maintains a quick response team to coordinate with local police if direct rescues cannot be conducted immediately.
“That’s why what the Vice President is saying—that nothing is being done to help the OFWs—is another piece of fake news,” she emphasized.
Earlier, Duterte accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration of staging a “sham welfare check” on her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) facility in The Hague.
“The officials entered the detention unit under the false pretense of conducting a ‘welfare check’ and interviewed FPRRD. The said officials clearly abused the rule of the detention unit concerning consular visits,” she said in a statement posted on social media.
“These are nothing but orders of President Marcos disguised as consular functions, and we strongly object to such visits. FPRRD does not need you, our family will take care of him,” the post further read.
The vice president also warned that the ICC and the Philippine government would be held accountable for any consequences if the alleged welfare checks continue.
Castro, however, declined to respond to this part of the vice president’s statement, saying that the Department of Foreign Affairs would issue any official remarks on the matter.
