Palace on Tulfo’s remarks vs. Filipino workers: That’s freedom of expression

Malacañang on Monday said it will not take disciplinary action against special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo for saying that Filipino workers are lazy and slowpoke.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Tulfo could be relaying the opinion of developers who allegedly prefer Chinese laborers instead of Filipinos because they are hardworking. Tulfo also said Filipino workers always smoke and keep talking at the job site.

"That is freedom of expression. Everyone is entitled to make his opinion on any matter concerning the country or the people or anybody," Panelo said.

"Bakit mo naman idi-discipline [for] relaying what he has been told by the developers, eh I think siguro kung totoo man iyong sinasabi ng mga developers, that should also give us - iyong kung tayo ang mga workers - na baguhin natin ang attitude natin with respect to our work ethics."

Tulfo has refused to apologize for his remarks despite criticism from labor groups.

Panelo said the government cannot do anything about one's poor work ethics.

"Kung talagang tamad ka, eh tamad ka. Kasi you’re expert on that field - you are a karpintero, you are a welder - pero kung ang ethics mo ay mas gusto mong nagpapahinga kaysa nagtatrabaho, eh personal mo na iyon. Wala nang magagawa ang gobyerno doon," he said.

The Palace official, however, does not think Filipino workers are inferior to their Chinese counterparts.

"If we put our hearts into it, magagaling talaga ang mga Pilipino. Meron ding tamad, pero generally talagang masipag tayo," Panelo said. — RSJ, GMA News