MOSCOW — President Duterte has advised Filipinos working in Russia to always obey the country’s laws to avoid any incident that would adversely affect its relations with the Philippines.
“Do not do anything that will jeopardize the relation at…maging masama ang tingin nila sa atin (and will make our image bad to them). Obey the laws. Follow the procedure,” Duterte said during a Filipino community meeting, the last of his activities in his productive five-day visit here.
Following his successful meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Duterte said the government is working on an agreement to address the problems faced by some overstaying Filipino workers here.
Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta said there are around 10,000 Filipinos in the Russian Federation, and many labor concerns focus on having expired passports but less on physical abuse faced by many in the Middle East.
“We are working on… sort of an agreement (that)…you’d be allowed to stay,” Sorreta said.
Duterte has directed Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and embassy officials to craft the details of the agreement.
Putin is open to looking at further improving the conditions of Filipinos here when he brought the issue to the table during their bilateral meeting last Wednesday in Sochi City, according to Duterte.
“So, what else do I have to say? The most important thing really to remember is that we are working with the blessings of President Putin and of course… maybe, the parliament here. We’re working on a working visa or something to legitimize your stay,” he said at the end of his speech before 1,500 Filipinos.
In the middle of his speech, the President said he is very thankful for the Russian government’s hospitality during his visit before calling on the Filipinos here not to create any ruckus that would affect the administration’s momentum in its diplomatic dealings with Russia.
“All that I ask is that you obey the laws. Do not do anything that would…place the relationship of the two countries in jeopardy… Ako, talagang saludo ako sa (I really salute) Russia, pati kay (and also) Putin,” he said.
Putin is not just supporting the country in getting new firearms, but he is also open to more cooperation, according to the Chief Executive.
“And ’yun lang binigyan niya tayo ng armas… ’Yun lang, sabi ko, ‘’Yun ang tinanim ko, utang na loob talaga’ (The fact that he gave us firearms, just that, I said, ‘That’s what I planted, debt of gratitude’),” he said.
“So that I leave with confidence that I’ll be able to – through Sec. Bello – to work on something that would ease your burden dito sa pagtira ninyo (in your stay here) and with us. We will always pray for you. Mag-pray tayo kay (We will pray to) Jesus Christ,” he added.
Duterte then directed the consular office or the embassy to act accordingly on the concerns of Filipinos working in Russia on expired passports.
“Hindi na kayo (uuwi) ng Pilipinas, dito na i-renew ninyo ang passport ninyo. Wala nang problema (You don’t need to go home to the Philippines, you will renew your passports here. There’s no more problem),” he said, receiving loud applause from the crowd.
“Second is ’yung ngayon nag-overstay tapos ’yung nagtatago-tago. Alam ng Russia (Second is those who are overstaying and hiding. Russia knows). Russia has a very good government. Efficient ’yan eh, alam nila. Pero sabi nila, ‘Hindi naman kami manghuhuli’ (They are efficient, they know. But they said, ‘We won’t make arrests’). We know the problem, your plight, alam namin gaano kahirap sa Pilipinas (we know how hard it is in the Philippines),’” he added.
The President asked Filipinos in Russia to “spend one or two days, renew their passport and then reapply.”
“(Russia) would be willing to make an arrangement,” he said.
As the two governments craft an agreement, Duterte called on the Filipinos to abide by Russian laws.
“Sumunod lang kayo sa batas at wala tayong problema. So kayo lahat dito, 10,000, wala tayong record ng kalokohan o ano. Sabi, if you are a criminal, ah, mas grabe rito. Just abide by the laws and we won’t have problems. So all 10,000 of you here, we don’t have record of wrongdoings or whatever, if you are a criminal, it’s worse here),” he said.
“You know, the criminal laws of Russia are very strict. Mas istrikto pa sa Pilipinas (It’s stricter than the Philippines’). So, kindly just… I’m pleading na huwag kayong gumawa (ng masama) (don’t do anything bad),” he added.
During the same event, Duterte also sang his favorite song, “Ikaw,” in a duet with an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
The President teased the unnamed OFW a number of times during his speech, which also roused the interest of the crowd who chanted Duterte’s name to show their massive sipport.
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bayanihan dancers also entertained the crowd while waiting for Duterte who first received his honorary doctorate degree from the Moscow State of International Relations.