News Release - July 7, 2005
References: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, 0927-2157392
Vince Borneo, Information Officer, 0927-7968198

No resign, no remit call
DOLE is clouding the issue in defending Gloria

"Clearly the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is defending an unrepentant and anti overseas Filipino worker President."

Thus declared Migrante Sectoral Party chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado on the statement of Acting Labor Secretary Danilo Cruz downplaying the campaign of Outrage, the alliance of overseas Filipino organizations and advocates groups campaigning for a boycott of remittances through the banking system to pressure the President to step down.

"Secretary Cruz is misleading the public in vain attempts to defend the illegitimate presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. We OFWs and families are campaigning to compatriots abroad to withdraw support to the most anti-OFW President by sending their remittances through non-formal or door-to-door channels until Gloria steps down. We cannot support a President that leaves the rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos to chance while she tries hard to cling on to power," Migrante leader Bragas-Regalado said.

Cruz had belied reports that the "No Resign, No Remit" drive by the Outrage alliance, composed of nine organizations in the Philippines and 95 groups in 22 countries, is now gaining ground.

"We only started the campaign yesterday, July 6. Government will feel the effects of a remittance drop in formal banking channels as the months go on with Gloria still in power,' replied Bragas-Regalado.

Based on figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the remittances from OFWs are expected to reach US$10 billion by year-end due to the rising number of Filipino workers abroad.

The Outrage alliance projects that the campaign will affect banks' foreign exchange earnings and it will be a blow to the already shaken Presidency, if not the whole economy.

Cruz also called on militant groups to be more considerate to OFWs and stop using them in the effort to destabilize the Arroyo administration.

"Excuse me, but it is the likes of President Macapagal-Arroyo, Foreign Affairs Sec. Alberto Romulo and Labor Sec. Cruz that are the ones using OFWs to propagate a seemingly stable government and an illegitimate Presidency. We shall pursue campaign until the end of the fake presidency of Macapagal-Arroyo and the rise of a transition government wherein OFWs and their families shall be ably respresented," Bragas-Regalado ended. #

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