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Friday, March 29, 2024

Tulfo remark draws Palace reaction

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Special Envoy to China Ramon Tulfo’s remark calling Filipino workers as “lazy and incompetent” was just his “freedom of expression,” the Palace said Monday, adding that Tulfo was only “relaying” the information he supposedly heard from developers who have employed Chinese workers instead of locals.

“Well, that is freedom of expression. Everyone is entitled to make his opinion on any matter concerning the country or the people or anybody,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

“I don’t think that’s the opinion of Mr. Tulfo. He was just relaying what was said to him by the developers,” he added.

The spokesman said Tulfo was just restating the stories he heard from a third person. He, however, noted that in a general sense, Filipino workers are industrious and hardworking. 

Panelo also said Tulfo’s comment does not endanger the reputation of Filipino workers overseas.

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Tulfo recently drew criticism for saying that employers preferred the “hardworking” and efficient Chinese over Filipino workers.

“When Filipino workers go to a job site, that’s only when they will start preparing their tools, whereas Chinese workers are already prepared. Filipino workers always smoke and keep talking,” Tulfo told CNN Philippines.

Tulfo also said he won’t apologize to Filipino workers “for telling the truth” that they are basically lazy and a slowpoke. 

“Oh my, I kicked up a storm on my statement that Filipino workers in this country are lazy! TUCP wants me to apologize. Labor Secretary Bebot Bello, as can [be] expected, takes exception to my comment. Read my column at The Manila Times tomorrow why I will not apologize,” Tulfo said. 

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