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The Duterte Government failed to address holistically the COVID-19 pandemic! From the very start, he played a clown to address the crisis—telling the Filipino people that the government has enough money to address the crisis, and can face the crisis. And months into this lockdown, he is now telling the Filipino people that the government has no more money.

The Duterte Government employed military solution, instead of the medical approach to the crisis. Thus, our consistent call for the crisis resounds—Solusyong Medikal, Hindi Solusyong Militar! Adding to the record of human rights violations they are inflicting on the communities and the poor; and even emboldening themselves as the powerful implementor of the COVID government response. Likewise, we are adding our call to re-channel the ₱379 billion approved budget of both the AFP and PNP (2020 General Appropriations Act) to COVID-19 pro-people response.

The Duterte Government used Congress to approve a corrupt-ridden economic band-aid to the health crisis, the so-called ‘government response package’ worth ₱1.49 trillion. Intending to initially spend the amount of  ₱648.521 billion to address the crisis, and more than half of the amount funded from loans; the government already released the amount of ₱350 billion. Ironically, in the midst of the pandemic, the approval of the US-Duterte arms deal worth ₱75 billion. Adding in the budget line-up: military, tourism, infrastructure, among others—marked by a capitalist greed! Aware that all these figures will be a burden to us Filipinos. Thus, our call is to consistently insist and pursue the root cause of our economic crisis, not this pro-business, pro-profit and graft-tainted solution!

The Duterte Government shows its vindictive attitude on the critical media agencies; currently, it successfully shutdown the ABS-CBN media network; a glaring sacrilege to press freedom; aware of the role of media in information dissemination on issues and updates on national issues and of the current COVID crisis.

The Duterte Government employs a business approach of imposing the mandatory increase of PhilHealth premium of OFWs (Overseas Foreign Workers); we echo the common sentiment of the working Filipinos abroad to scrap the PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0014 as we call for Public Health Not Profit!

The Duterte Government continues to employ the barbarity of the state forces to address the pandemic; manifested by the killings of ordinary citizens and activists during the crisis, continued harassment on far-flung communities; the unfounded accusations of NPA attacks, the red-tagging on legal pro-people organizations and leaders (like Fr. Raymond Ambray of Surigao); and the criminal pricing of rebel leaders.

The Duterte Government is displaying its military force in every corner of our islands; from guarding of the towns and cities to the distribution of cash aid; up to the pursuit of activists and identified organized communities, implementing violence tainted military-adventurism even during the crisis.

All these are utter disgust to the Filipino People, Rodrigo Duterte manifests the vulture-face of this crisis, taking advantage politically of our vulnerabilities.

The Duterte Government is not Protecting the Filipinos and is not Protecting our Human Rights. Resist Duterte’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic! Oust Duterte!#

Reference:

Marlon Lacsamana –  Secretary General Migrante Europe

The post Protect the Filipinos, Protect our Human Rights appeared first on Migrante Europe.

Angered by President Duterte’s mere suspension of the mandatory Philhealth membership and premium rate hike, Filipino migrants from all over the world staged an online global protest on Tuesday, 12 May, to demand the elimination of what they call “unjust” and “extortionate” state exactions. Migrante International members from North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific likewise related the plight of OFWs and Filipino migrants hard hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recession.

Migrante International Chairperson Joanna Concepcion slammed the Duterte administration’s “new scheme of legalized extortion” imposed on migrant workers. “We will not allow migrants to be robbed anew of their hard-earned salaries just to fund large-scale corruption in Philhealth. We will not forget the fake [ghost] patients, fake receipts, and the billions of funds lost to corruption,” Concepcion stated. She further argued that the pandemic has exposed the failure of neoliberal policies in addressing the enormous problems faced by the country’s healthcare system.

Marlon Gatdula of Migrante KSA reminded the Duterte administration that Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia already have existing health insurance provided to them by employers. Gatdula pointed out that when it comes to providing relief, Philippine government officials are not exerting concrete actions to aid OFWs who are under No-Work, No-Pay arrangements.

Europe being one of the most severely affected continents by the pandemic, Marlon Lacsamana of Migrante Europe raised its objection to the Duterte administration’s intent to overburden OFWs. “If the government is able to fund militarization in communities and in the countryside, that money should be taken back and be used for public health services for the people. The government is spending billions on debt servicing for owed money which has not contributed anything for the people’s welfare. That money should likewise be retrieved and be allocated to provide free services for Filipinos.” Lacsamana added that they are not just calling for the total scrapping of the mandatory Philhealth but for Duterte’s ouster.

Amidst the pandemic, many migrants are not only being afflicted by the Duterte government’s extortionist policies. Nap Pempeña of Migrante USA decried government negligence towards J1 visa holders victimized by recruitment agencies. He said that these young interns were promised professional training but actually ended up as replacements for the domestic workforce. Due to the closure of hotel and resort operations, thousands of young interns were laid off and are now without any income to support their basic needs. This is on top of the huge amounts of debt they incurred from the exorbitant fees charged by recruitment agencies. Pempeña deplored DFA’s failure to utilize the Php 1 Billion Assistance to Nationals fund to aid distressed J1 visa holders.

The post “SCRAP FOREVER, HINDI PAY LATER!” OVERSEAS FILIPINOS SLAM DUTERTE’S MANDATORY PHILHEALTH AS ‘LEGALIZED ROBBERY’ appeared first on Migrante Europe.