Kuwait incident hitting Pinoy bikers not a hate crime — DFA exec

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Tuesday the incident in Kuwait where an SUV hit a group of Filipino bikers was not a hate crime.

"So far, walang indication na hate crime ito kasi mayroong tradition ang Kuwait na ang mga drivers ayaw talaga sa cyclists kaya ang iniisip nila, this will lead to more calls sa cyclists na kailangan bigyan ng better protection ang cyclists, malinaw na bike lanes," De Vega said at a public briefing.

[So far, there is no indication that it was a hate crime because there is a tradition in Kuwait that drivers hate cyclists. What they are thinking is that this will lead to more calls for better protection for cyclists, clear bike lanes.]

He said there were previous accidents which did not involve Filipinos.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said the driver of the SUV had already surrendered to authorities.

De Vega earlier said the driver could face charges if proven that he or she was recklessly driving at the time of the accident involving around 50 Pinoy bikers. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News