Approaching former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday, Filipinos worldwide gathered to demand his return from the International Criminal Court’s custody.
From the UK to Australia, Filipinos gathered in solidarity as the former president is tried for crimes against humanity.
“Si Digong is like a father to us Dabawenyo. He made us feel safe,” OFW Esther Martin said while in front of the Philippine Embassy in London. “Nagdako mi nga dili mabalaka nga naay mag buang buang sa amo sa kadalanan (We grew up without worrying about troublemakers on the streets).
Around 300 to 400 Duterte supporters in New York gathered in front of the Philippine Consulate General in New York and marched toward The Times Square. In Seoul, Filipinos chanted his name at a peace rally in Jongno District. Similar gathering of Filipinos were observed in Dubai, Adelaide, Tokyo, Montreal, and other parts of the globe.
One might ask why overseas Filipino workers go to great lengths to organize similar events to honor a leader accused of allowing extra judidical killings under his watch. Why do OFWs love Duterte?
Duterte promoted stronger protection for OFWs
By signing the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Act, there exists a dedicated agency mandated to oversee OFW concerns and protecting their welfare. It enabled stricter enforcement of anti-human trafficking laws and crackdowns on illegal recruitment reduced the exploitation of OFWs.
In 2018, the tragic death of Joanna Demafelis, an OFW in Kuwait, prompted President Duterte to take decisive action. He imposed a deployment ban to Kuwait and ordered the immediate repatriation of distressed OFWs. Duterte personally visited Demafelis’ wake, extending financial assistance and scholarships to her family. This incident led to a bilateral agreement with Kuwait, enhancing protection for Filipino workers.
In 2016, thousands of OFWs were stranded in Saudi Arabia due to an economic downturn. The Duterte administration sent a SR40 million aid in a month-long mission to provide aid, including food and financial assistance, and facilitated their repatriation. Each affected OFW was to get P20,000 (SR1,667) plus P6,000 (SR500) for their family back home This swift response alleviated the hardships faced by affected workers.
He also brought home thousands of stranded OFWs from conflict zones in the Middle East, including war-torn Syria and Iraq.
Duterte made government services more accessible for Filipino migrant workers
The government in his term launched One-Stop Service Centers for OFWs (OSSCO) to speed up employment processing, introduced OFW e-Cards for easier access to services, and activated more embassies and consulates to assist distressed Filipinos abroad.
OSSCO provides services such as passport processing, tax returns, SSS pensions, and other essential government transactions.
The Build! Build Build Program built infrastructure that helped OFWs
The Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Program helped generate 1.1 million local jobs, allowing some OFWs to find stable employment in the Philippines instead of working abroad.
It benefited OFWs through projects like the Clark International Airport expansion, improving travel efficiency, and the OFW Hospital in Pampanga, providing free healthcare for migrant workers and their families.
His tough stance on crime and drugs
Duterte’s anti-crime measures reduced crime rates, creating a safer environment for families left behind by migrant workers. His administration’s crackdown on drug syndicates led to fewer drug-related cases involving Filipino workers overseas, ensuring OFWs could work abroad without fear of their families becoming involved in criminal activities.
This strengthened peace of mind and security for OFWs and their dependents.
He imposed stricter regulations against illegal recruiters
Duterte’s administration cracked down on illegal recruitment, increasing penalties and arresting offenders. The 2021 creation of the DMW provided stronger protections, ensuring safer overseas employment for Filipinos and reducing exploitation by illegal recruiters and human traffickers.
He also warned immigration and customs personnel against exploiting returning workers by opening their bags. Additionally, he directed the Department of Tourism to review the processing practices in travel agencies to prevent exploitation.
He ordered crackdown on corruption on agencies handling OFWs
Before Duterte’s presidency, OFWs and travelers faced the Tanim Bala scam at NAIA, where airport personnel planted bullets in luggage to extort money. Duterte ordered an immediate crackdown, ending the scam almost overnight, ensuring safer, hassle-free travel for Filipinos.
Duterte took a no-nonsense stance on corruption, publicly exposing and firing officials involved in shady dealings. He removed corrupt Bureau of Customs personnel and NAIA officers engaged in extortion, ensuring fairer treatment and smoother processes for OFWs traveling abroad.
Duterte targeted corruption in OFW agencies like POEA and OWWA, firing officials involved in bribery. His administration simplified processes, reducing reliance on fixers and illegal recruiters, ensuring fair and transparent overseas employment services for Filipino workers.
Establishing zero placement fees for OFWs to certain countries
Through agreements with host countries, the Duterte administration secured agreements with countries like Japan and Germany, eliminating placement fees for OFWs. This reduced upfront costs, ensuring workers could start their jobs without heavy financial burdens.
The policy particularly benefited domestic and skilled workers, making overseas employment more accessible and fair for Filipinos seeking better opportunities.
He made travel more efficient for OFWs and families
Duterte improved travel efficiency for OFWs not only by eliminating the tanim bala scam, but also extending passport validity to 10 years, and opening OFW-only lanes at immigration.
He also streamlined airport processing, reduced red tape in document applications, and expanded one-stop service centers, making travel smoother and hassle-free for migrant workers. Many OFWs previously had to pay “fixers” to expedite passport applications and other necessary documents.
A streamlined airport immigration created OFW-only lanes for faster processing. His administration reformed the Bureau of Immigration, reducing delays, extortion, and bribery, ensuring smoother and safer travel for Filipino workers heading abroad.
He signed the law that granted free college education to OFW dependents
Duterte’s Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931) made tuition free in state universities and colleges, easing the financial burden on OFWs. This allowed many OFW families to send their children to college without struggling with high education costs, securing a better future for their dependents.
OFWs often feel disconnected from the Philippines but still deeply care about their families’ well-being. Duterte’s administration made them feel valued by prioritizing their protection, ensuring government efficiency, and addressing long-standing concerns. His direct, no-nonsense leadership style also appealed to many OFWs, who saw him as someone who genuinely fought for their interests.