DFA: PHL envoy accused of sexually assaulting Pinay maid in Kuwait to face probe in Manila

Published November 8, 2012 5:10pm

(UPDATED 5:00 p.m. November 9) - The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday ordered the country’s envoy to Kuwait to return to Manila as allegations that he sexually assaulted his Filipino maid surfaced.

Ambassador Shulan Primavera, Manila’s envoy to Kuwait since 2010, reportedly sexually molested his maid several times inside his home, reports said.

Primavera, a seasoned career diplomat who has been in the foreign service for four decades, has denied the charges.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has instructed Primavera to come home “for consultations,” said Foreign Undersecretary for Administration Rafael Seguis.

“He should return to Manila as soon as he receives the instruction. It was sent to him today,” Seguis said in a phone interview.

Upon his return, Primavera will face the DFA probe as soon as Malacañang approves the department’s recommendation to authorize the investigation, Seguis said. The Board of Foreign Service Administration is the body which investigates complaints against Filipino diplomats.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the investigation will give Primavera the opportunity to clear his name and at the same time give justice to the complainant if her allegations are true.

“He is being accused by a woman for sexual harassment,” Hernandez said. “Once we have received the approval of the President we will undertake or conduct an investigation on the case specifically on the allegations of harassment leveled against him by this person,.”

Citing the Philippine Foreign Service Act, Hernandez said any chief of mission or ambassador appointed by the President should be investigated only after the Chief Executive approves the action in writing.

There is no feedback yet from Malacanang as of Friday, Seguis said.

The DFA has already received the formal complaint from Primavera's alleged victim, Hernandez told reporters Friday, but declined to make public its content.

Hernandez said there is no recommendation at the moment to suspend Primavera pending the investigation.

“In the meantime he’s there [at the embassy]. What we need to do is to get his side about this and go from there. Anyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

“We want to find out the truth and we want him to clear himself if it’s not true. And we also would like to make sure that the whole thing is verified,” Hernandez said. - Michaela del Callar/VVP/DVM/KG, GMA News

Tags: rape, kuwait, departmentofforeignaffairs