The quick resolution of the diplomatic crisis in Kuwait will be difficult to achieve if political intrigue is injected into the actions taken to provide assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who complain of abuse from their Kuwaiti employers.
This according to Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo, vice chairman of the House Committee on OFWs.
Castelo said the Kuwaiti government is monitoring the turn of events in the country as it weighs its options amid the diplomatic turmoil and a show of division will only put our government at a disadvantage in the negotiations.
Castelo was referring to the alleged clamor of career service officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to resign as a result of the backlash of the supposed rescue operations.
Castelo said the focus of the nation should be on the three Philippine embassy personnel in Kuwait who have been issued arrest warrants for kidnapping despite being covered by diplomatic immunity.
“The call for Cayetano’s resignation, if true, serves only to show weakness to Kuwait as it is obviously ratcheting up pressure on the country after the supposed rescue missions which Kuwait considered as a breach of its sovereignty,” Castelo said.
He said Cayetano instead should get the full support of the nation as the government negotiates a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kuwait that will safeguard OFWs’ welfare.
“The show of a united front is necessary to achieve the best agreement with Kuwait that will protect the welfare of Filipino migrant workers,” Castelo said.
The show of a united front is necessary to achieve the best agreement with Kuwait that will protect the welfare of Filipino migrant workers.
He added that “the show of unity is in accordance with the efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte to take all the necessary steps to make Filipino migrants safe in the countries where they are employed.