Duterte appoints Abdullah Mama-o as special envoy to Kuwait 

President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Kuwait Ambassador to the Philippines Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh at the Presidential Guest House in Davao City in this file photo taken April 23, 2018. (Photo from the Presidential Photographers Division)

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFW) concerns Abdullah Mama-o, as a special envoy to Kuwait, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement after the scheduled trip of foreign affairs and labor officials to Kuwait was canceled.

“Itinalaga na lang ni Presidente si Secretary Mama-o bilang special envoy to Kuwait,” Roque said over radio dzMM.

The Palace official said Duterte ordered Mama-o to stay in Kuwait until all OFWs that needed to go home had returned to the Philippines.

“Ang bilin po ni Presidente, babalik si Secretary Mama-o sa Kuwait sa lalong madaling panahon, mag-stay siya sa Kuwait hanggang hindi nakakauwi sa Pilipinas lahat ng dapat makauwi,” he said.

The diplomatic relation of the Philippines and Kuwait turned sour after a video of Filipino officials rescuing distressed OFWs in the Gulf state went viral on social media. /cbb