Duterte urged to fire Mon Tulfo for calling Pinoy construction workers 'lazy'

A coalition of 40 labor groups on Tuesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to fire special envoy to China Ramon Tulfo for saying that Filipino construction workers are "lazy" compared with their Chinese counterparts.

In a statement, the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition said Tulfo's statement could be considered as treason, noting the diplomatic issues between Manila and Beijing.

"Calling Filipino workers lazy specially compared to workers from China at a time we have diplomatic issues with the country is betrayal of the country, if not treason," said Sonny Matula, coalition chair.

"Mr. Tulfo is not fit for the job. President Rodrigo Duterte should fire him. Alternatively, if at this point he has realized his sins, he can still save face and just choose to resign," he added.

Malacañang has earlier said it will not take disciplinary action against Tulfo as he is just exercising his freedom of expression.

Tulfo, a former broadcaster and newspaper columnist known for his fierce commentary, has refused to apologize for his remark, insisting that what he said was the truth.

Matula said Filipino workers in the construction industry who are known all over the world for their skills have since taken exception to Tulfo's remarks.

"Instead of apologizing, he (Tulfo) justified his erroneous position," Matula said, adding Tulfo "is behaving like the special envoy of exploitative contractors of the construction industry."

"It will be a disservice to the country if Mr. Tulfo will stay a minute longer in his post,” Matula, who is running for the Senate in the May polls, said.

Another longtime labor leader and also a senatorial candidate in May Leody de Guzman backed the call for Tulfo's removal from office, saying the ambassador should not be allowed to use his post to hurl insults against Filipino workers.

"Nakakainsulto. Para siyang envoy ng China sa Pilipinas kung magsalita. Halos lahat ng bansa ay bilib na bilib sa kasipagan ng manggagawa natin, pero itong si Tulfo ay tinutuya ang ating mga manggagawa," De Guzman told GMA News Online via text.

"Dapat tanggalin sa pwesto at palipatin na lang sya sa China."

De Guzman reminded Tulfo that the increase in the country's Gross Domestic Product was a result of Filipino laborers' hard work. —KBK, GMA News