Home | To bottom

DFA makes up GMA support abroad — Migrante

BAGUIO CITY (July 7) — An alliance of migrants groups today exposed how the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) posts abroad are “fabricating support” for the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA).

According to Migrante International, DFA, through the Philippine Consulate in Nagoya faxed a standard letter of support to PGMA to one of their member groups in Japan with the name of the organization’s name already affixed to the document. This was done without consultation with the concerned organization.

Migrante said they were also furnished with a copy of the said letter, entitled, “Statement of Support for President Arroyo”, which ends by saying “we call on our fellowmen to rally behind President Arroyo, exercise sobriety, and maintain respect for the Constitution and the rule of law.”

“Filipinos overseas have a multitude of problems ranging from contract violations to human rights abuses that in the extreme, includes murder. It’s distressing that instead of attending to the problems of OFWs, Consulate officials are attending to the problems of Gloria,” says Maita Santiago, Migrante International Secretary-General.

Santiago said that PGMA cheated her way into Malacañang by treating government agencies and public funds as her personal campaign machinery.

“Today, she’s again using the DFA and other agencies, for her own selfish ends. Gloria’s madness must end,” she added.

Meanwhile, Migrante-Youth’s Mazel Trinidad, hit the First Family’s so-called “sacrifices” resulting to the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo’s “self-exile” to the United States.

“We are hurt that the Arroyo family is now talking about the pains of being forced apart when this is what we children of migrants experience all our lives – especially in the hands of Gloria’s policy of exporting one million workers a year,” said Trinidad.

She added that Migrante-Youth members supports Migrante’s campaign dubbed as “No Resign, No Remit.” She said, OFW children will call their parents and urge them not to send remittances through bank channels as part of their bid to pressure PGMA to resign. # via NORDIS

Home | Back to top