Duterte invited to visit Kuwait to check on OFWs —Palace

Malacañang on Thursday said Kuwait has invited President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the oil-rich nation, weeks after he imposed the suspension of deployment of Filipino workers there due to reports of maltreatment and abuse.

Duterte's trip to Kuwait "is in the offing" following his meeting with Kuwait Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh on Wednesday, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a press briefing.

"Well, I guess Kuwait wants to assure the President that Philippine nationals are protected in Kuwait, and to see for himself," Roque said.

Roque said he was not privy to the details of the meeting between Duterte and the Kuwaiti ambassador.

"The meeting happened, but again it was only a bilateral meeting, no one was allowed in the room. It's only the President that knows what he discussed," the Palace spokesperson said.

Duterte earlier said he wanted a total ban on the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait following reports of abuses, with some even resulting in deaths.

Acting on the President's pronouncement, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on January 20 ordered the immediate suspension of the deployment of OFWs to the Gulf state. —KBK, GMA News