Page 171 - AAE PR REPORT - MARCH 2025

4/2/25, 9:05 AM Filipinos in UAE say they cannot afford to support Duterte by withholding payments back home | The National
Since his election, between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed in the
anti-drugs operation, according to ICC data.

Silent protest

One Dubai resident who gave her name as LP counts herself as a staunch supporter.

“Us people living abroad love this man, our heart goes to him because he always stood up for
us,” said the UAE resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“We OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) feel bad and feel sad for this old man who was our
president. This zero-remittance week is a silent support for him and a protest against our

government without any violence.

“This gives a voice to the Filipinos to say we are a big factor contributing to remittances and it’s

a way to be united and express ourselves. Maybe our government will be alarmed when they
see Filipinos from America, the Middle East and Europe not sending money – it will be billions of

pesos lost even in a few days.”

But she was unable to join the protest as her family in the Philippines required the money to pay

bills.

“My family comes first. I do support him but these people will not feed my family. I have bills to

pay at the end of the month. I don’t have a choice, I must send money home.”

Abu Dhabi resident Luz works in the food and beverage sector and she too sent home about

Dh3,000 on Friday.

“This is all politics, you need to be practical,” said the 37-year-old who has lived in the UAE for

a decade.

“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.”

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