(Eagle News) — “Uncalled for and unwarranted.”
This was how Senator Chiz Escudero described Kuwait’s moves to expel Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa, and to recall its Manila representative.
In a statement on Thursday, April 26, Escudero said this was because they took place after President Rodrigo Duterte himself issued an apology over the rescue of Overseas Filipino Workers which Kuwait deemed illegal.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator Arnel Ignacio said the rescue was a violation of Kuwaiti laws if Kuwaiti authorities were not informed beforehand.
Escudero added the embassy officials who were blasted by Kuwait over the rescue were “only doing their job protecting Filipinos against abusive employers.”
“What about their national(s) (who) abused and committed a crime and/or human rights violations against our national(s)?!?!Was he or she ever held to account for his or her actions by the Kuwaiti government?!?!” he asked.
In a statement reported by KUNA news agency, the foreign ministry said it decided to expel Villa and make the recall of its Manila representative after embassy officials did not respond to their request for the names of Filipino embassy officials who KUNA said “committed the offense of smuggling Filipina workers in three months.”
The expulsion and recall take place after a meeting between Duterte and Kuwait’s ambassador in Manila, Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh.
During the meeting, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippines gave the assurance it respected Kuwait, which he said in turn gave the assurance OFWs in the Middle Eastern country would be protected.