OFWs stop sending cash on Arroyo's birthday

MANILA, Philippines - An overseas Filipino workers group in the Middle East vowed to refuse sending money to the Philippines as part of its efforts to celebrate President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s birthday on Saturday, April 5. In a statement, Migrante, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations based in the Middle East, said that its gift to Mrs Arroyo is to make her birthday “Zero Remittance Day." “Our not-so-precious gift for Mrs. Arroyo on her 61st birthday is our “Zero Remittance" day, April 5," John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East regional coordinator, said in a statement. According to Monterona, the initiative is part of the group’s “BABAY Gloria" (BAgong Bayani AYaw kay Gloria) civil disobedience campaign. In the same statement, the group also said it wanted Mrs Arroyo, who turns 61 on April 5, “to have peace of mind" in the face of numerous controversies hounding her administration. “Mrs Arroyo could hardly have a peaceful mind nowadays," Monterona said, referring to “numerous problems facing the country." According to Monterona, these problems include soaring food prices, the rice shortage, surging oil costs, and exposes of alleged corruption cases involving her administration. Monterona added that the Arroyo administration has been perceived to have abandoned distressed overseas Filipino workers. “After all she could have attain peace of mind only if she is ousted or resigned from office," Monterona said. - GMA News.TV