DFA refutes report saying career diplomats want Cayetano to resign

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday denied that career diplomats are calling for the resignation of Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

The DFA was responding to an article published in The Philippine Star alleging that career diplomats wrote to President Rodrigo Duterte asking for Cayetano's resignation, citing his supposed "amateurism" and "gross incompetence" in handling the country's ongoing issues with Kuwait.

In a statement, the DFA called the article "malicious" and that the Office of the President had not received any such letter.

"The alleged clamor by career officials for the Secretary to resign as contained in the supposed letter came from some who do not represent the views of the entire career Foreign Service Corps," the department said.

Relations between the Philippines and Kuwait faltered after Philippine diplomatic staff moved to "rescue" Filipino domestic helpers from their employers due to reports of abuse, a video of which was later uploaded to social media. Kuwait viewed the act as a violation of its sovereignty and decried what it called the staff's "inappropriate behavior."

Although Cayetano later apologized to the Kuwaiti government, Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa was expelled from the Gulf state. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News