The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) lauds President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. for his diplomatic efforts leading to the pardon of 220 Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this, following the successful return to the country of Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who endured more than a decade of incarceration in Indonesia.
“Time and again, President Marcos has shown genuine appreciation for the sacrifices of our OFWs who brave foreign lands to provide for their families here at home, while significantly contributing to our nation. The work by President Marcos has been done through quiet diplomacy, with no fanfare, demonstrating a genuine regard that puts the lives and livelihood of ordinary Filipinos above all else. Indeed, every single Filipino life must be given importance sans drama or theatrics, doing away with political bells and whistles, focusing just on concrete results,” stated TUCP Vice President Luis Corral.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) explained that the pardon “is the direct result of President Marcos’ meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, last November.”
“Without resorting to empty rhetoric or self-serving pandering to the media, President Marcos has shown true service to the humblest and most unfortunate among our OFWS. We need more of this kind of leadership based on real work and not bluster or bravado or fakery. All in public service should safeguard the dignity of Filipinos here and elsewhere so that the Philippines can stand tall as a global capital of hardworking, honest workers in healthcare, manufacturing, services, and countless other industries,” emphasized Corral.
The TUCP noted that this recent pardon of 220 Filipinos, detained for various offenses, is not an isolated success. In June 2023, President Marcos also successfully negotiated the release of two Filipinos from death row in the UAE.
“This is honest-to-goodness public service at its finest. By securing the pardon of hundreds of our ‘kababayans,’ President Marcos has not only saved lives but has restored their hopes, dreams, and futures, and maybe also given the cynical and jaded among us, reason to believe that we can really and truly achieve a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’,” underscored Corral.
