Should PH envoy in Kuwait be recalled? 2 senators differ in their views

Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa (Photo from a PTV video)

Two senators contradicted each other on Tuesday over whether or not Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa should stay in his post.

The Kuwaiti government not only summoned Villa but it also filed a diplomatic protest over the rescue of Filipino housemaids there without informing Kuwaiti authorities.

READ: Kuwait protests PH rescue of housemaids

Sought for comment on Villa’s fate, Sen. Cynthia Villar said: “Ako kasi, kung may problema, i-recall na lang. Palitan ng iba. Why will you quarrel ba? Ano ba yung reason to quarrel?”

“Mahirap din naman, nasa bansa nila tayo tapos makikipag-away tayo dun so i-recall na lang, palitan ng iba,” Villar added during an interview at her office in the Senate.

Villar warned that Filipinos in Kuwait may suffer even more if the ambassador would not be recalled to the Philippines.

“Maski anong sabihin na we are right, but we are in their country, pwede nila tayong pahirapan doon, di ba? Eh kung yan [Villa] naman ay iuuwi dito at dadalhin sa ibang lugar eh what’s so difficult about that?”

“Naku huwag nang ipagpilitan,may bad blood na yun di ba,” the senator added.

Villa, meanwhile, found an ally in Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

Drilon said he would “fully” support the ambassador, saying it would not beeasy to be in his situation.

“He’s there to protect our interest and the interest of our Filipino workers, and forced by necessity, he did what he did for the welfare of our Filipino compatriots. I support him for what he did,” he said.

So when asked if Villa should be recalled, the Senate minority leader said: “Not at all. I will object to any plan to recall him.”

Drilon said the government should defend the ambassador instead.

“We should not recall him,” the senator stressed. /atm