Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile warned the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were planning to join the remittance boycott as part of their support to former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Different OFW groups across the world organized the week-long remittance boycott.
In his Facebook post, Enrile reminded the OFWs about the benefits they were receiving from the government, including tax privileges, and their passport to work.
He cautioned them not to participate in such a boycott to evade the possibility of retaliation from the government.
“As I said before. for every action there is always a possible counter action. If such an advice is followed by some OFWs, what will happen should Congress, for instance, retaliates and cancel or also suspend the tax privileges of the OFWs that follow the advice? The OFWs are income tax–free on their earnings abroad; they do not pay travel taxes; they do not pay airport fees; they are exempt from the documentary stamp taxes on their remittances; and they are also exempt from filing income tax returns. In addition, they have to have passports to be able to work as OFWs,” said Enrile.
“Congress granted these privileges to them by laws enacted by it. I earnestly suggest to our OFWs to study carefully that advice to them before they get burned by it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Malacanang Palace asked the OFWs to calm down as the remittance boycott would not only affect the government, but also many families in the Philippines.
“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. So, sana po ay maging mahinahon tayo sa ganitong mga klaseng issues,” she stated.