Ban on OFW deployment to Kuwait stays —Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Friday that the suspension of deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait would continue after a dead Filipino woman was found in a freezer at an abandoned apartment in the Gulf state.

"We do not intend to offend any government or anyone. But if a ban is what is needed, then let it be so," Duterte said at a press conference in Davao City.

Duterte deplored the death of Joanna Daniela Demafelis as he appealed to Arab nations to treat Filipino workers with dignity and respect.

"The Filipino is no slave to anyone, anywhere and everywhere. Every unlawful physical injury that is inflicted on an OFW [overseas Filipino worker] is an injury [that] I personally bear as the head of this Republic," Duterte said.

"Every abuse committed against an OFW is an affront against us, as a sovereign nation. [All that] I ask [for] our overseas Filipino workers, is that their dignity is honored and the rights of a human being, upheld and respected," he added.

Duterte said a review of the incidents of violence, curtailment of freedom and abuse of basic human rights committed against Filipino workers overseas, especially household service workers in Kuwait, "compels us to ask what we, in government, has been doing all these years to protect and give justice to our helpless sons and daughters, brothers and sisters."

"We send to you a Filipino worker, hale and hearty, determined to work his heart out in order to give his family a decent and comfortable life in the Philippines. Do not give us back a battered worker or a mutilated corpse," he said.

The President said he was ready to take "drastic steps that will help preserve Filipino life and limb."

“The ban continues today and I don’t know up to what time,” he said.

"We do not intend to offend any government or anyone. But if a ban is what is needed, then let it be so," he said.

Duterte said he will also ask Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific to help provide transportation to those who want to come home in 72 hours.

He also wanted recruiters of OFWs who were killed to be charged and sent to prison. 

An estimated 250,000 Filipinos work in Kuwait, 75 percent of which are domestic helpers. Some 300 Filipinos apply for work in Kuwait every day.

Many OFWs in Kuwait have complained of being treated badly, receiving no salary and other forms of abuse.

On Friday morning, 60 distressed OFWs arrived from Kuwait. It was the third batch of repatriated workers from the Gulf state in February.

Super Radyo dzBB's Sam Nielsen quoted Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officials as saying most of the repatriates from Kuwait claimed they were victims abuse by their employers.

But some of them have been sent home upon expiry of their employment contracts.

On February 2, a first batch of 39 distressed OFWs arrived in the country from Kuwait. This was followed by another batch on February 4.

Distressed OFWs have been returning home from Kuwait after it implemented an amnesty program for  overstaying foreign workers.

Malacañang on Thursday said Kuwait had invited Duterte to visit the oil-rich nation, weeks after he imposed the suspension of deployment of Filipino workers 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 at 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.

Duterte on Friday confirmed he is going to Kuwait.

“May plano ako to plead my case there, before them [Kuwaiti officials],” he said. —NB, GMA News