Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
The Philippines could seek the help of Saudi Arabia or Qatar “to act as our intermediaries with the Kuwaitis,” Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Monday.
Pimentel floated this idea amid the escalating diplomatic row between the Philippines and Kuwait over a rescue mission of distressed Filipino domestic helpers that resulted in the expulsion of Philippine envoy Renato Villa and the scrapping of a deal between the two nations.
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“There are many OFWs in the region. Perhaps we can ask the help of Saudi Arabia or Qatar to act as our intermediaries with the Kuwaitis,” he said in a statement.
If North and South Korea could make peace, then “what more the Philippines and Kuwait that have always enjoyed good relations and have strong economic ties?” the Senate leader said.
Pimentel expressed hopes that the two nations would “normalize” its ties as soon as possible.
“I am inspired by the Korean example. If, after a full-blown war and decades of tension, two countries can make peace, what more two countries that have always enjoyed good relations and have strong economic ties? The Philippines and Kuwait need each other” he said in a statement.
The Senate president though acknowledged that the two countries must first diffuse the current conflict and for relations to be repaired, he said, “public relations stunts must be avoided.”
“Let’s look at the Koreas: we need high-level contacts, honest discussions, and most importantly, no posting on social media or anywhere else on the Internet,” he said.
“This is a highly-charged issue that is very tempting to politicize. Let’s put the country’s interests first and let the Department of Foreign Affairs take charge so that only one voice is heard by the Kuwaitis,” Pimentel added. /cbb