Kuwait assures PH on safety of Filipino workers

President Rodrigo Duterte discusses matters with Ambassador of Kuwait to the Philippines Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh during a meeting at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City on April 23, 2018. Joining the President are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Bong Go. (PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

The Kuwaiti government has assured the Philippines that it will protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf State pending the signing of a deal giving Filipino workers better treatment amid reported abuses.

The assurance was made during the meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte and Kuwaiti Ambassador Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh in Davao City on Monday night.

“During the meeting, Ambassador Saleh reiterated to us the commitment of the Kuwaiti Government to protect and ensure the welfare of our more than 250,000 kababayans working there,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The DFA said the Philippines “gave renewed assurances of our respect for the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and the dignity of the Kuwaiti people.”

The meeting between Duterte and the ambassador came after Kuwait summoned Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa, and served protest notes on the Philippines over the rescue of distressed OFWs there allegedly without informing the Kuwaiti authorities.

A Palace source told INQUIRER.net that the government is now finalizing details of Duterte’s visit to Kuwait.

Duterte had earlier said he would visit Kuwait “to give honor” to its government, which had agreed to a deal giving Filipinos working in the Gulf State better treatment.

Mr. Duterte said he would go there to witness the signing of the accord.

READ: Duterte visit to Kuwait now being finalized

During the meeting, the DFA said both parties “agreed to continue to work together to address matters of mutual concern and will update the public of developments.”

Duterte had earlier ordered a total ban on the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait following the reported abuse of Filipino workers there, especially after the death of Filipino domestic helper Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found stuffed inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait a year after she was reported missing.

“We, however, would like to appeal for the public’s kind understanding as we ask for some diplomatic space to allow us to continue our engagement with our Kuwaiti counterparts,” the DFA said.

“We are optimistic that following our conversation with Ambassador Saleh early this evening, the remaining issues between the Philippines and Kuwait will be resolved,” it added.

Present during the meeting with the Kuwaiti ambassador were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, and other DFA officials.                     /kga