Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte had nothing to do with putting his face on the identification cards issued by the government for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Duterte’s photo was included in the OFW ID card, drawing criticism online. Some netizens described the move as that of an “epal,” a term often used to describe a person who wants to seek attention or a politician who wants to put their faces or names on anything.
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Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said he believed that Duterte was not involved in designing the OFW ID.
“Hindi ba pati ang mga pictures niya sa mga offices pinapalitan niya ng mga heroes? I don’t think he knew about this,” Roque said.
Duterte signed Memorandum Circular No. 25 ordering agencies to put up photos of heroes, not of elected officials, in their offices.
Some netizens also noticed how President Duterte’s photo is even bigger compared to the ID card holder’s own photo.
ABS-CBN News sought Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s comment on the issue and he said that the OFW ID design was the “initiative of DOLE.”
But Bello defended the inclusion of Duterte’s face in the photo.
“I just want to to underscore yung concern ng President sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawa,” Bello said.
“Pinapakita namin na ito ay project niya…Hindi naman siya kandidato,” he added.
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The DOLE chief said that OFW ID card will serve as the OFW’s Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). He further revealed that the card will not expire and that the cards will soon be recognized by other government agencies, such as PhilHealth, Social Security System, Pag-ibig FUNd
Bello said the first batch of 500 OFW ID cards have been released and more OFWs and former OFWs will receive theirs in the future.
The release of the ID card received negative reactions from some people, who called out the seemingly “epal” move.
Facebook page “Filipino’s Patriotism” urged Bello not to be epal.
Juan Nationalist posted a collage of Communication Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson’s two posts – one calling out epal politicians, promoting a cause called “Pulitikong Epal,” and the other about the OFW ID with Duterte’s photo on it. With the post was the caption, “How to be a SOLID HYPOCRITE.”
In the first post, Uson wrote:
“Ang Pulitikong Epal ay boses ng mga ordinaryong Pilipinong sawa sa mga TRAPO. Dito nilalabas ang pagkadismaya ng mga mamayang Pilipino sa mga Pulitikong epal. Ginagawa nila ang ka-epalan na ito sa pamamagitan ng pag lagay ng pangalan o di kaya ng kanilang larawan sa mga posters at kanilang mga ipinamimigay na tulong sa kanilang lunsod. Maaari niyo pong ipadala ang inyong mga nakuhanang video o picture sa [email protected]. Wala poi tong kinikilingan kahit anong partidong kinabibilangan ang pulitiko basta EPAL atin itong ilalabas. Wala pong personalan para lamang ito sa bayan.”
In September this year, the Palace released Memorandum Circular No. 25 that sought to “strengthen” the Filipino’s nationalism, respect for heroes, love of country, and improved “social consciousness and patriotism.” It is to be implemented in all government agencies, state-run and state-controlled firms, state colleges and universities, and public schools.
The memorandum also included a list of Filipino heroes determined by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines that can be displayed in government offices and public schools instead of photos of elected or appointed government officials. These include Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Aguinaldo, Juan Luna, Marcelo del Pilar, Lapu-Lapu, Gabriela Silang, Emilio Jacinto, Melchora Aquino, Fr. Jose Burgos, Fr. Jacinto Zamora, Fr. Mariano Gomez, and Jose Abad Santos.
Last July, President Duterte described the display of his photos and other government officials as “silly.”
“I intend to also issue a decree, ipatanggal ko iyong mga litrato namin,” he said in an interview in Malacañang.
“Nabuang man iyong mga ganoon na tao. Put your family photos in your living room,” he added.
He also recalled how he never allowed the display of his photos when he was still the mayor of Davao City.
“Sa Davao, when I was mayor, I prohibited the display of my picture and I told the decks there to display instead the pictures of our heroes,” Duterte said.
Sources: ( philstar.com , news.abs-cbn.com )
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