MOSCOW, Russia – President Duterte has appealed to Filipinos living and working here to always follow the laws of Russia as the Philippine government is working on an agreement with Russia to help legitimize them.
Duterte made the statement as he met around 1,500 members of the Filipino community here.
In his speech, Duterte recognized that the main problems overseas Filipino workers here encounter with their employment are expired passports. Some Filipinos also tend to overstay and hide to avoid arrest.
Duterte said he ordered the Philippine Embassy here to assist Filipinos in renewing their passports so they won’t have to return to the Philippines to undergo the process.
He thanked the Russian government for not arresting these OFWs, especially those who hide from them, because Russia “understands the plight of Filipinos” here.
“Sabi nila na, ‘Hindi naman kami maghuhuli. We know the problem, your plight. Alam namin kung gaano kahirap sa Pilipinas,'” Duterte said.
“Ganito lang ang hingiin ko: Spend one or two days, renew your passport, and then you re-apply here. They would be willing to make an arrangement,” he added.
“(Labor) Secretary (Silvestre) Bello (III) is working on an agreement na kayong nandito overstaying or having problems, there will be covered by an understanding para bigyan kayo ng maluwang na ano.”
The President told Filipinos here to keep a clean record so the negotiations for the agreement would not be jeopardized. (Argyll Geducos)
