Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile on Tuesday urged social and political leaders to think twice about mounting a “zero remittance week” to protest ex-president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest, saying the move could cost overseas Filipino workers their tax perks.

Palace calls for calm as some OFWs plan ‘zero remittance’ protest for Duterte

In a Facebook post, Enrile warned a zero remittance week could have adverse consequences on OFWs.

“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,  retaliate and cancel or also suspend  the tax privileges of the OFWs that follow the advice?” Enrile said.

He said OFWs  are income tax-free on their earnings abroad and are exempt from paying travel taxes and airport fees. “They are exempt from the documentary stamp taxes on their remittances; and they are also exempt from filing income tax returns,” he said.

OFWs also need passports to work in other countries, which are privileges granted by Congress “by laws enacted by it", he said.

“I earnestly suggest to our OFWs to study carefully that advice to them before they get burned by it,” Enrile said. 

Malacanang on Tuesday appealed for calm among supporters of former President Duterte following reports that certain OFW groups were planning to mount a “zero remittance week” to protest his arrest.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro noted that the repercussions of such a plan would affect the country’s economy and OFWs’ families.

“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. At may mga Pilipino rin naman po na nagreklamo, nag-file ng complaint laban sa dating Pangulong Duterte, sana ay maging patas din po sila sa kanilang pananaw para po maibsan ‘no ang anumang puwedeng kahinatnan ng kanilang gagawin,” she said. 

“Pero siyempre po, 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 mahinanon tayo sa ganitong mga klaseng issues.”

Meanwhile, Batangas Second District Rep. Gerville Luistro urged authorities to be more diplomatic in dealing with OFWs.

"Magkaroon tayo ng dialogue sa kanila for them to understand that what the administration did was legal about allowing the turnover of the former president to the Hague," she told reporters in an online interview.

"Huwag tayong magpa dalos-dalos. Let us always remember the significance of the OFWs, not only in the Philippine economy, but even with respect to the interest of their families left behind, yung mga naririto," Luistro added.  

OFW Party-list Rep Marissa Magsino called on the government to leave overseas Filipino workers out of political issues.

"Bilang kinatawan ng ating minamahal na OFWs na nagsasakripisyong magtrabaho sa ibang bansa para sa kanilang pamilya, nananawagan ako sa pamahalaan at sa oposisyon na huwag gawing bahagi ng alitan sa pulitika ang ating mga migranteng manggagawa," she said in a statement.

The lawmaker said it would be better to focus on the plight of OFWs, instead of reacting to the planned zero remittance week.

— With a report from Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

Duterte was bundled into a plane in Manila last March 11 and brought to the Hague via Dubai, before facing an initial hearing two days later.

The 79-year-old former president faces a charge of crimes against humanity tied to his "war on drugs" in which thousands were killed.

He is currently in a detention center in The Hague, awaiting a confirmation of charges hearing on September 23, where he will have the opportunity to contest the accusations against him. With Agence France Presse