PH envoy to Kuwait recalled to face sex rap

MANILA, Philippines—Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has summoned home the Philippine ambassador to Kuwait, Shulan Primavera, to answer charges he sexually molested his maid.

“The instruction was for him to come home as soon as possible,” said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, adding that the department wanted an immediate response to the allegations aired against him.

Radio reports said a 28-year-old Filipino overseas worker accused the 63-year-old Primavera of rape. The complainant was reportedly a runaway who sought shelter in the embassy but had been working at the ambassador’s residence for the past eight months.

Primavera, in a radio interview, denied the accusations and called the woman “a liar.” He had said the accusations were part of a “demolition job” waged against him by another ambassador who had ill-feelings towards him.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez told reporters there was yet no recommendation to suspend Primavera. “What we need to do is to get his side about this and go from there… Due process will be observed,” Hernandez said.

“We want to find out the truth and we want him to clear himself if it’s not true, and we would also like to make sure that the whole thing is verified,” Hernandez said.

Cleared for probe

According to Hernandez, Del Rosario has already sought Malacañang clearance to investigate Primavera, who was appointed to the Kuwait mission by President Aquino in June 2010.

Hernandez, citing the Philippine Foreign Service Act, said any chief of mission or ambassador appointed by the President could only be investigated after the Chief Executive approves the action in writing.

“Once we have received an order from the President, the DFA will undertake or conduct an investigation on the case, specifically on the allegations of harassment leveled against him.”

The complainant is being assisted by the migrant workers’ advocacy group Blas Ople Policy Center.