Page 153 - AAE PR REPORT - APRIL 2025

5/8/25, 9:45 AM Filipinos in UAE say they cannot afford to support Duterte by withholding payments back home | The National
“I have to send money home to my daughter and son for their tuition fees and expenses. People are loyal to Duterte and we feel he should
not have been arrested, there is justice in the Philippines. They should not have taken him to The Hague.”

Every dirham is a lifeline
It was estimated that Filipinos sent more than $38.84 billion in remittances to the Philippines last year. This money was a "backbone of
countless households and a critical pillar of the national economy", according to a statement sent to The National by Al Ansari Exchange.

"These remittances support essential needs such as education, healthcare, housing, and small businesses, uplifting entire communities
and driving economic growth," read the statement.

"The UAE is a significant contributor to this total, and the Philippines remains one of Al Ansari Exchange’s top remittance corridors. We
recognise that every dirham sent home is a lifeline – ensuring children can stay in school, families can access medical care, and
communities can thrive."

Why is the campaign popular?
The move is gaining traction with Filipinos worldwide, due to the outrage sparked by Mr Duterte's detention. He remains a popular figure,
particularly among Filipinos working overseas, and candlelit prayer rallies are expected to be held in his honour around the world on
Friday.

The campaign is geared towards grabbing attention without "collateral damage", organisers have said.

The $38.84 billion sent home in remittances to the Philippines last year represented more than 8 per cent of the country’s gross domestic
product. Mr Duterte's supporters hope withholding the payments will force the Philippine government into action and secure his return to
the country.

But Juan Ponce Enrile, chief presidential legal counsel of the Philippines, warned in a Facebook post this week that overseas workers
should think “many, many times” before taking part in the boycott, saying "for every action, there is always a possible counteraction".

What are the charges?
Mr Duterte is facing a charge of “the crime against humanity of murder”, according to the ICC, over a crackdown on the drug trade. Rights
groups estimate tens of thousands of mostly poor men were killed by officers and vigilantes, often without evidence they were linked to
drugs.

The Philippines quit the ICC in 2019 on Mr Duterte's instructions, but the tribunal has maintained that it continues to hold jurisdiction over
killings before the country's withdrawal. It also says it has jurisdiction over killings in the southern city of Davao when Mr Duterte was

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