INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday vowed to press charges against local chief executives found to have refused entry to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are returning to their hometowns.
During the “Laging Handa” press briefing, Año said local government units (LGUs) should accept the returning OFWs as they have tested negative for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and have undergone the mandatory 14-day quarantine period in government facilities in Metro Manila.
Authorities earlier announced 24,000 OFWs are returning to their hometowns from Monday to Wednesday, as they have tested negative for the virus and have completed the quarantine.
President Duterte has given the concerned agencies a week to send all the OFWs home, following complaints of delay in the release of test results and the quarantine certificate.
Some of the OFWs have been staying quarantine facilities for more than a month. They will face more difficulties as some LGUs are refusing them entry, or would like them to undergo another round of quarantine and tests.
Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco, president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, said LGUs just want to make sure no COVID-infected OFW will enter their provinces especially those under general community quarantine.
Año said some of the LGUs are violating quarantine protocols by being unreasonably strict.
“I am warning you, stop ninyo yan (you stop that),” he said.
Año said local chief executives cannot use their COVID-free status as excuse to deny the OFWs entry to their areas and let them stay in piers or ports instead. He noted that President Duterte wants these OFWs to be back home after spending time in Metro Manila for quarantine and COVID-19 testing.
“I will make sure na hahabulin ko kayo sapagkat hindi yan in accordance sa ating Bayanihan Act, sa pinag-uutos ng Pangulo. (I will make sure that I will run after you because that is not in accordance with our Bayanihan Act and with the order of the President),” added Año.
Citing estimates from the Department of Labor and Employment, Año also said some 302,000 more OFWs are due to return to the country this year. He said they are coming mostly from the Middle East, South America and ASEAN countries.
“Ang iniintindi natin or iniisip natin for the next two months ay mga 60,000 ang darating at sa buong taon ay 300,000. (What we are preparing for is the return of 60,000 in the next two months and for the entire year is 300,000,” said Año.
CHARGES
President Duterte reiterated his warning to LGUs that they face charges for turning away the repatriated OFWs.
“Do not impede it. Do not obstruct the movement of people because you run the risk of getting sued criminally,” the President said in address late Monday after meeting with the members of the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
He said only the national government can impose travel restrictions because it is the only one that can declare an emergency based on national interest.
“I’m ordering you to accept them, open the gates of your territories and allow the people, and allow the Filipino to travel wherever they want,” the President said.
Duterte said it is cruel for the LGUs to refuse entry to the returning workers who are considered modern-day heroes.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that as of Tuesday, 11,848 OFWs have been sent home by the national government to their provinces. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
