By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
At the Malacañang press briefing held on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro responded to media queries about the recent remarks of Vice President Sara Duterte concerning the government’s knowledge on the welfare of some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
When asked by the media about the Palace’s reaction to the alleged ‘welfare check’ conducted by several personnel from the Embassy of the Philippines in the Netherlands on former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained in the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in The Hague, Castro deferred the question to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The Palace mouthpiece instead refuted the Vice President’s allegations on ‘inadequate protection’ for OFWs, “Nakausap po natin si DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia at tinanong po natin kung ano ang masasabi ng nasabing ahensya. Mayroon po tayong Migrant Workers Office (MWO) na nasa mga destinasyon o mga bansa na malaki ang populasyon [ng mga OFW].”
She added, noting the efficient government response to OFW concerns, “Lahat po ng mga kinakailangan o pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan sa ibang bansa, especially the OFWs ay tinutugunan ng ating gobyerno, at ‘yan din po ang nais ng ating Pangulo. Ayon sa record po ng DMW, lahat ng humihingi ng tulong sa kanila, 100% nilang natutugunan at may records po sila.”
Castro meanwhile refused to comment on the recent filing of charges by the ICC against former President Rodrigo Duterte, urging the citizenry instead to let the members of the international tribunal perform their duties accordingly.
“No reaction. The Philippine government has nothing to do with the investigation [or] with the hearing or proceedings before the ICC. So, hayaan po natin ang mga prosecutors doon at mga witnesses na sila ang gumanap ng kanilang tungkulin.”
When asked regarding the government’s remarks on the claims of the country’s second-highest government official of countries that would welcome her father when granted an interim release, she quipped, “Nagbunga naman po yata ang madalas niyang pagbibiyahe, so kung ‘yan ay good news po sa kanila, at kung ano pa ang magiging desisyon ng ICC, tatanggapin naman po yan ng pamahalaang Marcos Jr.”
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