Kuwait expels PHL envoy amid tensions over domestic workers

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait — Kuwait is expelling Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa and recalling its envoy from Manila, the country's official news agency said Wednesday, as tensions rise over the treatment of domestic workers.

News agency KUNA said the Philippine ambassador had been given a week to leave oil-rich Kuwait, amid a diplomatic row between the two nations sparked by the murder of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joanna Demafelis.

Villa was declared persona non grata.

The Kuwaiti government served protest notes on Villa last week over what it called "inappropriate behavior" by Philippine diplomatic staff, who were shown in a video conducting a rescue of OFWs in the Gulf state.

The video showed the diplomatic staff rescuing a Filipina fleeing from her employer, whom she accused of physically abusing her.

The video was obtained from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Villa both said that the rescue operations were adequately coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte met with Kuwait Ambassador Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh in Davao City—a meeting that presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said helped settle the "misunderstanding" between the two countries.

"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.

On Tuesday, Cayetano apologized to the Kuwaiti government, saying that the country's actions were done “in the spirit of emergency to protect Filipinos.”

“I apologize to my counterpart, we apologize to the Kuwaiti government, Kuwaiti people and leaders of Kuwait if they were offended by some actions taken by the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait,” Cayetano told reporters.

Cayetano assured Kuwait that the Philippine government “will follow their laws and that we will respect Kuwaiti sovereignty and uphold the dignity of their state by acting within the bounds of law and international law.”

On Wednesday, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III opined that the Philippines' apology probably gained it the respect of Kuwait and other countries.

“I think we gained the respect and the friendship of Kuwait more and maybe some other countries na tumitingin sa atin. The Philippines, at least, marunong din pala magpakumbaba and manghingi ng paumahin,” Pimentel said at a news forum.

'Unfortunate turn of events'

Malacañang says it will defer to the Department of Foreign Affairs when it comes to addressing the report that Kuwait is expelling Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa and recalling its envoy from Manila.

Senate labor committee chairperson Joel Villanueva called the development "a very unfortunate turn of events" that "serves as a lesson too that good intention is not enough, especially in the international political arena."

He added that he supports the Philippine embassy's rescue of the OFWs and that it is the government's duty to protect Filipinos overseas from abuse.

"We need the best effort of the government to manage this problem as this will affect a number of OFWs working in Kuwait...Our embassy's efforts to save our kababayans were of a much greater importance to ensure the non-repeat of Joanna Demafelis' case and other domestic workers who have suffered abuse and cruelty from their employers," he said.

Sen. Francis Escudero said the move of the Kuwaiti government to expel Villa was "uncalled for and unwarranted."

"After PRRD's apology despite the fact that our embassy officials were only doing their job protecting Filipinos against abusive employers, I think that is uncalled for and unwarranted," he said in a statement.

"What about their national that abused and committed a crime and/or human rights violations against our national?!?! Was he/she ever held to account for his/her actions by the Kuwaiti Govt?!?!". — Agence France-Presse/with reports by Amita Legaspi and Virgil Lopez/BM/NB/BAP, GMA News