No heads rolling yet on rescue of OFWs in Kuwait
DAVAO CITY – Heads are unlikely to roll yet over the controversy generated by the rescue of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OWFs) in Kuwait, sources said on Tuesday.
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There had been demands from both Philippine and Kuwaiti officials to replace Ambassador Renato Villa over the rescue, which was seen by Kuwaiti officials as a violation of their country’s sovereignty.
Among those who wanted Villa sacked was Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, who described the rescue operation as poorly planned and irresponsible.
“The perception that this is a publicity stunt under the cover of a rescue mission comes from the fact that immediately after the rescue, a video of the ‘covert operation’ obviously taken by the raiding team itself was posted on social media for maximum publicity effect,” Biazon said in a statement.
“Not only does that go against the nature of a covert operation, it also seemed to be a slap on the face of the host country, showing the impunity that the raiding team displayed within its territory,” he added, and asked Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to recall Villa and other Embassy officials behind the controversial rescue.
But one of the sources, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the matter, said during Monday night’s meeting here, President Duterte listened intently at the explanation provided by Cayetano and “appeared to have accepted that the rescue was necessary because lives are in danger.”
Another source who was asked if Duterte would be sacking anyone over the controversial rescue said there was no such decision.
“Not yet,” the source added.
Asked to clarify if Duterte would soon be sacking officials involved in the rescue mission, the second source said “there was no such thing discussed” during the meeting.
But the second source said Duterte and Cayetano were still talking when he left the meeting place at the Presidential Guest House here.
Duterte had also met with Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh, whom Cayetano had earlier met in Manila, after his meeting with the Cabinet officials here.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it was up to Cayetano on what moves to take against those involved in the rescue.
Roque also admitted that Duterte’s meeting with Althwaikh centered on the “recent events that transpired in Kuwait.”
Roque said during the meeting, Duterte had told Althwaikh that Kuwait should accept the fact that the Philippines would protect its citizens.
But he said the President also assured the Kuwaiti ambassador that the Philippines respected Kuwait’s sovereignty.
“They parted on positive note, emphasizing that while the Philippines will always exercise its obligation to protect its nationals abroad, they will do so in a manner respecting the sovereignty of Kuwait,” he said.
Roque said the controversy would not affect the planned signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait on the protection of OFWs in the Gulf state.
“We still expect the MOA providing the minimum terms and conditions of employment for our OFWs to be signed soon. As in fact, they’re already talking about possible dates; and the possible date maybe after this year’s Ramadan. So it was a frank but very cordial discussion and I understand that after the meeting both parties reiterated their mutual support for each other and parted even closer as friends,” he added. /lb
