The Palace on Tuesday brushed off a senator’s allegation that it was behind the policy on the random inspection of balikbayan boxes that has recently angered overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), saying the accusation has no concrete basis.
“Walang katotohanan at walang batayan ang paratang na ‘yan. Batid natin na nagpahayag si Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina ng obserbasyon na pinagsasamantalahan ng ilang sektor ang paggamit ng mga balikbayan box,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said of Senator Nancy Binay’s claim that Malacañang gave the directive to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and that it has long been targeting OFWs.
In a media briefing at the Palace, Secretary Coloma noted that the BOC policy is aimed not at OFWs but at individuals who use the balikbayan boxes to smuggle contraband into the country.
Coloma also dismissed the accusation that Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda has said that OFW remittances have not contributed to the Philippine economy.
“Hindi po totoo ‘yan. Wala rin pong katotohanan at walang batayan ‘yan. Ang basis ng pinag-uusapan na ‘yan ay ‘nung nagdeklara ng ‘No Remittance Day’,” he said, explaining that what Secretary Lacierda said during an interview back in 2013 was that it is the right of every OFW to send his or her remittance in whatever means he or she wants.
“Ang sinabi lang ni Secretary Lacierda ay ito: ‘Karapatan ng bawat OFW ‘yung pagpapasya kung paano niya ipadadala ‘yung kinita niya.’ ‘Yon ang sinabi ni Secretary Lacierda, dahil ang tinutukoy na isyu ‘non ay ‘yung ‘no remittance’. So, klaro po, walang katotohanan at walang batayan ang paratang na ‘yan,” Coloma pointed out.
He said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas itself recognizes the huge contributions of OFWs to the economy, keeping it afloat despite economic uncertainties abroad.
“At malaking sakripisyo po ang kanilang ginagawa, kaya kinikilala po natin ito sa kabuuan,” Coloma added. PND (as)