Palace: Duterte fixed ‘minor’ issue with Kuwait

President Rodrigo Duterte's Monday meeting with Kuwait's ambassador to the Philippines helped settle the "misunderstanding" between the two countries over the alleged lack of coordination in the rescue mission of distressed OFWs in the Gulf state, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Duterte's spokesperson, Harry Roque, said the President, his senior officials and Kuwait Ambassador to Manila Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh "parted on a positive note" following their meeting in Davao City.

"Iyong mga hindi pagkakaintindihan siguro, alam niyo kung ano iyon, iyung pinoprotesta ng Kuwait, I think naayos naman ni Presidente ang sigalot na 'yan. Minor lang naman," Roque said in a press briefing.

He added both sides agreed that while the Philippines will always exercise its obligation to protect its nationals abroad, they will do so in a manner respecting the sovereignty of Kuwait.

Kuwait had earlier summoned Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa to explain the consular staff's rescue of overseas Filipino workers, a video of which had made its rounds on the Internet.

Villa's boss, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, said the envoy was able to explain that the rescue had been coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities.

"There was this unnecessary aggravation caused by a video. The video showing Philippine authorities operating in the territory of Kuwait will be offensive to the concept of sovereignty. Kuwait could be offended because you have police authorities operating in their territory," Roque said in a separate interview with CNN Philippines.

But after Monday's meeting, both countries have "agreed to move on" from the issue, according to Roque. —KBK, GMA News