(Eagle News) — “Deeply disturbing.”
This was how the Department of Foreign Affairs described Kuwait’s reported move to expel Philippine ambassador Renato Villa, and the recall of the Middle Eastern country’s representative in Manila.
In a statement early Thursday, the DFA said “the action taken by the Kuwaiti government,” was, after all, “inconsistent with the assurances given by Kuwaiti Ambassador Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh during his meeting with (Foreign Affairs) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in Manila” on Tuesday, April 24.
During the meeting, the DFA had said the Philippines gave Kuwait the assurance of respect, after the Middle Eastern country protested the alleged illegal rescue of Overseas Filipino Workers in the country, and the remarks of Philippine Embassy officials that reportedly constituted a serious offense to the state.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator Arnel Ignacio said a rescue that was not coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities was considered illegal in the Middle Eastern country.
In exchange, the DFA said Saleh assured the protection of OFWs in Kuwait.
According to the foreign affairs department it would ask the Kuwaiti ambassador “to explain first thing tomorrow why the Kuwaiti government reneged on the agreement reached with him to work together to move bilateral relations between the Philippines and Kuwait forward.”
“In discussions at every level with Kuwait, the Philippines has always emphasized that the well-being of Filipino nationals wherever they may be will always be of paramount importance,” the DFA said.
It added that “the protection of the rights and the promotion of the welfare of Filipinos abroad would always be the guiding principle of the Philippines in its relationship with countries around the world, including Kuwait.”
A total ban on the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait is in place after President Rodrigo Duterte expressed anger at the abuse of many there.
The ban came following the death of OFW Joanna Demafelis, who was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment.