(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, June 3, issued an apology to Kuwait for the “harsh language” he said he used at the height of the strained relations between the two countries.
“That was a result of an emotional outburst, but I’d like to apologize now. I’m sorry for the language that I was using..,” he said in a speech before Filipinos in South Korea.
According to the President, he was “very satisfied by the way (Kuwait) responded to the problems of my country.”
“I think I’ll go there, I’d like to thank the Kuwaiti government for understanding us and giving the faith in us…,” he said.
President Duterte lashed out at Kuwait following the death of Overseas Filipino Worker Joanna Demafelis, and the reported abuses of others OFWs in the Gulf state.
The Philippine government implemented a total ban on the deployment of OFWs in Kuwait as a result, and Philippine embassy officials in the Gulf state implemented a rescue of distressed OFWs.
But the rescue angered Kuwait, which deemed the move illegal since its authorities were supposedly not informed about such beforehand.
Kuwait expelled Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa and recalled its Manila representative.
But following talks between both sides, an agreement for the protection of OFWs was inked on May 11.