Duterte visit to Kuwait now being finalized

President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Ambassador of Kuwait to the Philippines Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh at the Presidential Gusest House in Davao City on April 23, 2018 amid the deployment ban of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state. (Photo from the Presidential Photographers Division)

The Philippine government and Kuwait are now finalizing details of the possible visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in the Gulf state following reported abuses of overseas Filipino workers there.

This developed as Duterte met with Ambassador of Kuwait to the Philippines Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh in Davao City on Monday.

“It’s being finalized,” a source told INQUIRER.net when asked about the status of Duterte’s visit to Kuwait.

Also present during the meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

Duterte had ealier said he would visit Kuwait “to give honor” to its government,” which had agreed to a deal giving OFWs better treatment.

The President said he would go there to witness the signing of the accord.

The Philippine government has imposed a ban in Kuwait following the reported abuse of OFWs there, particularly the death of Filipino maid Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found inside a freezer a year after she was reported missing. /atm