De Lima: Why defend China’s free speech, but frown at Taiwan OFW’s views?
Sen. Leila de Lima. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – A labor attache’s move to “deport” a Filipina worker in Taiwan over her criticisms of the government’s COVID-19 response contradicts Malacañang’s stand on defending China’s freedom of speech in a music video, Senator Leila de Lima said on Thursday.
De Lima was referring to Malacañang’s statements on the “Iisang Dagat” (One Sea) music video sponsored by the Chinese embassy, which highlights the cooperation between the two countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The video drew flak for allegedly insinuating that the two countries share the same sea.
“Ginagalang diumano ng Malacañang ang karapatang magpahayag ng mga kumanta ng ‘Iisang Dagat’ pero hindi maigalang ang kaparehong karapatan ng kapwa natin Filipino,” the senator said in a statement.
(Malacañang supposedly respects the right to free expression of the Iisang Dagat singers, but they cannot accord the same respect to the same rights of our fellow Filipino.)
“Gaano ba karupok ang pagkapangulo ni Duterte na kailangan patahimikin ang mga kritiko? Bakit naging prayoridad ng ating Labor Attache na pigilan ang malayang pagpapahayag ng opinyon ng isang simpleng caregiver?” she asked.
(How brittle is Duterte’s presidency that they need to silence critics? Why is the Labor Attache prioritizing the curtailment of free speech and the expression of the opinion of a simple caregiver.)
After the music video drew negative reactions from Filipinos who protest the Chinese’s presence in the country and in the West Philippine Sea, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that it forms part of “freedom of expression.”
In the case of Elanel Ordidor, an OFW based in Taiwan, Roque also said that it respects the decision of the Asian neighbor to deny the said worker’s deportation.
Ordidor was ordered deported by Taichung Labor Attaché Fidel Macauyag over criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte’s COVID-19 approach. However, Taiwan said that it has control over who shall be deported, noting that they respect Ordidor’s free speech.
De Lima, currently detained due to drug-related charges, said in her handwritten note that it is a pity that Taiwan treats OFWs better than the Philippine government.
“Mabuti pa ang Taiwan, pinangangalagaan ang karapatan ng ating manggagawa doon, samantalang ang gobyerno pa natin ang naniniil sa kanila,” De Lima said.
(It’s better with Taiwan, because they protect the rights of our workers there, while our government instead is keen on pressuring them.)
“Our OFWs are heroes and the least we can do for them is to respect their rights, including the right to expression and to petition our government for redress of grievances. That our Labor Attache prioritizes silencing dissent over looking out for the welfare of our OFWs in Taiwan is truly disappointing and infuriating. He has no business being there,” she added.
The issue with Ordidor has sprouted other concerns as well, in terms of Taiwan-Philippines relationship. In saying that he respects the decision, Roque also noted that the fate of Ordidor lies on the hands of Taiwan and China — despite Taiwan maintaining independence over the Asian superpower.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Philippine authorities should stop misrepresenting Taiwan as part of China, as it was never ruled over by the communist country for even a single day.
