Today I address the recommendations in the report on the Maga-Contemplacion case of the Presidential Fact-finding and Policy Advisory Commission on the Protection of Overseas Filipinos, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Emilio Gancayco, which I received last Thursday evening, April 6, and made public on Saturday, April 8, 1995.

Specifically, I have made the following decisions:

1. I hereby order the preventive suspension effective today of ambassador Alicia Ramos, consul general Elizabeth Buensuceso, consul general Reynaldo Catapang, labor attaché Jose Bustalino, labor attaché Abraham Malli, labor assistant aurora Navarro, welfare officer Annie Israel, and welfare officer Josephine Sanchez — in connection with the administrative charges for neglect of duty, inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official functions under the Administrative Code of 1987 and Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

2. I have asked ambassador Francisco Benedicto — who is not a career diplomat — for his resignation. I have already received his letter of resignation dated April 9, 1995.

3. I have also asked the Office of the Ombudsman, thru the Special Prosecutor, following due process, to consider the criminal prosecution of these officials — as well as Mr. Atanacio Maronilla and Mr. David Corpin, both former administrators of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) — under Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 and Article 233 of the Revised Penal Code, and other pertinent laws.

4. I will decide on the Gancayco Commission’s finding with regard to secretaries Roberto Romulo and Nieves Confesor after I have consulted with my Cabinet, which I am meeting this evening.

5. I have ordered our diplomatic mission in Singapore to invite, through the Singapore government, Dr. Wee Keng Poh and Professor Chao Tzee-cheng of the Singapore Institute of Science and Forensic Medicine to Manila, so that they can themselves examine the remains of the deceased Delia Maga, which are in the custody of the national bureau of investigation (NBI). I do this in the hope that the Singapore and Filipino scientists can settle their conflict of opinion on the extent and cause of her injuries without the need to refer the matter to third-party adjudication, which is a possible recourse the two governments have already agreed on.

I will pursue such representations as may be necessary with the government of Singapore for a joint and coordinated effort to re-open the investigation of the killing of Delia Maga depending on how the key question of the autopsy findings is settled.

Now, before I take up questions from the floor, let me put this whole issue in clearer perspective.

First, considering the number of Filipino workers (OCWs) we have abroad — an estimated 4.2 million in over 120 countries — only a very small fraction of them — roughly one in a thousand (1/10 of one percent) — ever gets into serious trouble — whether as victim or as perpetrator. The overwhelming majority (or 99.9 percent) of our OCWs are law-abiding, socially responsible, diligent and well-liked in their host countries and who return back to the Philippines without mishap to themselves or to their families during their employment overseas.

Every single Filipino abroad — whether documented or not — is our government’s responsibility. My administration will persevere — despite all the odds — in its efforts to protect our OCWs, care for them, and reintegrate them with their families and communities. This caring includes my determination to restore our economy to self-sustaining growth; generate decent and well-paying jobs in industry, services, and agriculture, and lift up the quality of life of Filipinos. In the end, we hope to return our OCWs to their families here at home — with productive jobs and livelihood and other basic needs befitting citizens of a progressive, democratic and caring society.

We have put in place a Social Reform Agenda (SRA) for sustained implementation. Already being effected are urgent measures to enhance services in health, education, housing, and agrarian reform. These are intended to benefit the farmers, fishermen, small entrepreneurs, women, the youth, the handicapped, the poorest of the poor, the jobless, and the victims of violence and other crimes.

Let me stress that the SRA is a “doable” program. We distributed some 220,600 hectares already to land reform beneficiaries. We have invested some p4.2 billion in the school building program. We have set up some 20,200 day care centers, serving over 650,000 children up to age six years. We have launched thrift banking and a “credit for the poor” following the Grameen bank concept. In fact, we have focused on the needs of our 19 poorest provinces, so they can catch up with the rest of the country.

All these form part of our national strategy to fight poverty, with a view to reducing the number of Filipino families below the poverty level from 45% to 25% by the year 1998. Productivity of each person, including young workers, will boost per capita income to at least $1,000 annually by 1998.

I have asked the Gancayco Commission to continue looking into measures that will improve the deployment and working conditions of our OCWs. In the interim, I have approved several additional steps to strengthen these support systems.

The most recent is Administrative Order No. 182, dated April 6, 1995 which created an “Assistance to Nationals Task Force” that will develop and carry out an integrated program of government assistance and services to our overseas workers. We have also called for a special session of Congress to pass the Code or Magna Carta for the Protection of Overseas Filipinos, particularly the workers.

Meanwhile, in the United Nations system, as in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Philippines has initiated multilateral agreements to protect the basic rights of all migrant workers — their right to decent treatment, fair wages, and respect for their dignity as human beings.

I assure our countrymen that I will continue to perform as a hands-on and problem-solving president. Whenever and wherever I have the opportunity, I listen to the problems of our citizens, here and abroad, in order to find solutions to such problems. I have personally met with many of our OCWs in some middle east countries and in Europe as well as in Hong Kong, Japan, south Korea and the United States of America. In Singapore, in fact, I met our OCWs twice, and continue to monitor reports of their working conditions.

All I ask in turn is that as a people we remain united and steadfast in our quest for the better life and sustained development, all in an atmosphere of freedom and democracy. United we will surmount temporary difficulties, like the ones we face at present. United we can face any challenge successfully, confident that we will prevail. Kaya natin ito!

Now, let me take questions from the floor.