Pinoys in HK rally vs. lawmaker over ‘homewrecker’ tag

Some Filipino workers in Hong Kong on Thursday rally in front of the office of lawmaker Regina Ip to demand apology from her for labeling Filipina domestic helpers as "homewreckers" and "sexual resources for foreign men in Hong Kong."

A report on "24 Oras" showed the demonstrators shouting "respect human rights" in front of Ip's office, reportedly claiming they were not satisfied by her explanation regarding her inflammatory comment. They carried placards that said "Regina Ip, shame on you" and "It's not too late to apologise."

Ip said in an op-ed article on Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao last April 18 that "jilted expatriate wives" complained to her of their maids seducing their husbands.

The protesting Filipino workers asked the Hong Kong government to release a statement on Ip's comments, the "24 Oras" report said.

They also asked the Philippine government to declare Ip a persona non grata to bar her from entering the country if she will not apologize to the Filipino maids.

Filipino lawmakers had blasted Ip for her remarks portraying Filipina domestic helpers as seductresses despite frequent cases of Filipino women being sexually molested or abused by their foreign employers.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi de Jesus claimed that Ip's remark was "anti-women, anti-migrant, and racist" and was "not supported by data".

Malacañang also took offense at Ip's statement, calling it "fallacious" and "very unfair" to Filipinas who leave their families in the Philippines to take care of other people's children abroad. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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