Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac has advised overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to carefully consider their participation in the “zero remittance week” protest scheduled from 28 March to 4 April.

The move is to celebrate former President Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday and protest his arrest and transfer to The Hague, Netherlands.

Cacdac emphasized that while political expression is important, OFWs should prioritize their families’ welfare.

“My message is simple: when making decisions about remittances, they should carefully balance political concerns with their family obligations,” said the DMW secretary in a radio interview on Thursday.

The secretary highlighted the Marcos administration’s support for OFWs, noting: “The enhanced AKSYON Fund has already assisted 86,000 individuals. Our financial aid programs for jobless, needy, and sick OFWs are unprecedented, alongside our bilateral cooperation efforts.”

OFW remittances remain a crucial component of the Philippine economy, significantly contributing to its gross domestic product.

In a related development, Cacdac revealed the Department of Justice (DoJ) is investigating a person of interest among the 176 recently repatriated victims of Myanmar scam hubs. This follows a February case where a supposedly distressed worker was later identified as a recruiter.

“We’ve gathered substantial evidence during victim interviews, including Philippine-based connections that could lead to arrests,” Cacdac said, while deferring a full disclosure to allow DoJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to review the evidence first.