Envoy denies sex raps—DFA

The Filipino envoy who has been accused of sexual harassment has returned to the country and is facing a preliminary investigation by a fact-finding committee, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

A 28-year-old Filipino maid in Kuwait has accused Shulan Primavera, the country’s ambassador to Kuwait since 2010, of sexually molesting her. The complainant is reported to be a runaway overseas Filipino worker who sought shelter in the embassy and has been working at the ambassador’s residence for the past eight months.

Primavera, 63, has denied the accusation and called the woman a “liar.”

Seeking evidence

The fact-finding probe seeks to establish whether there is enough evidence to formally charge Primavera, said  Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson.

The investigation is being kept under wraps in accordance with the confidentiality rules of the Civil Service Commission.

“And so as not to prejudice the case and to protect those involved, the DFA will abide by the Civil Service Commission’s strict confidentiality rule covering sexual harassment cases,” Hernandez said.

“This will ensure a just and fair investigation process. We enjoin all parties and the media to respect and heed this rule,” he said.

The chargé d’affaires has been put in charge of the Kuwait embassy in the absence of Primavera. Tarra Quismundo