DFA: Bahrain committed to strong relations with PH

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano INQUIRER file photo

High ranking Bahraini officials assured the Philippine government of a continued partnership, adding that their government will implement measures to protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“The Prime Minister [Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa] informed us about a number of initiatives that Bahrain is taking to further protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos and other expatriate workers,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement issued on Monday.

Cayetano also said that Prime Minister Khalifa recognized the efforts of OFWs in Bahrain, saying that the kingdom is ready to accept more workers.

“Prime Minister Khalifa told us that we have nothing to worry about as far as our workers are concerned and he even gave his personal assurance that his office will deal with any problem that may involve our kababayans [countrymen],”

Aside from Prime Minister Khalifa, Cayetano also met with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his recent two-day visit to Manama, to discuss the strengthening of Philippine-Bahrain bilateral relations through trade and investments and countering violent extremism.

The Crown Prince also showed appreciation on President Rodrigo Duterte’s handling of the Marawi crisis.

“The Crown Prince also expressed admiration for President Duterte’s strong and decisive action in fighting terrorism in Marawi,” Cayetano said.

The meeting comes after DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola met with the Bahraini head-of-state.

Cayetano’s wife, Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano, along with Special Envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council Amable Aguiluz V, Ambassador Alfonso Ver, and DFA Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa Affairs Hjayceelyn Quintana, accompanied the DFA secretary to the meetings. /jpv