RIYADH: Over five million Overseas Filipinos Workers (OFWs), including more than one million in Saudi Arabia, observed “zero remittance day” on Friday, in protest against the random checking of boxes sent by them to their families back home by the Customs department.

According to customs officials, some smugglers could use such boxes for their business to evade tax on imported goods. But the strong reaction from Filipinos across the world prompted the Philippines President Benigno Aquino to order the Customs chief to withdraw the random check order.

The protest call went viral on social media networks, prompting the country’s Senate house to order its own investigation.

The incident happened even as the administration began its campaign for the 2016 presidential election. The OFWs’ outrage against the government could have an adverse effect on the prospects of current administration’s nominee at the polls, say veteran OFWs.

The OFWs were offended by a palace statement discrediting the almost $23 billion remittances of the Filipino workers abroad, that goes directly to their family not to the government, according to a Palace official.