Robredo wants diplomats to handle crisis

Manama: Philippine Vice-President Leni Robredo has urged the government in Manila to make full use of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ career diplomats to address the crisis with Kuwait, and the challenges caused by Philippine officials.

“We are gravely concerned that recent actions taken by the administration, particularly the deliberate release in both media and social media of videos of ‘rescue missions’ undertaken by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) personnel in the Kuwait, have created a diplomatic challenge that could further jeopardise our workers in that country,” she said in a statement posted on her Facebook account.

260,000 OFWs

More than 260,000 OFWs may lose their jobs, and the capacity of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait to protect those who remain may be compromised as they deal with the serious strain in diplomatic relations with the Kuwaiti government as a result of the incident, she warned.

“Decisive steps must be taken at the soonest time to rectify this situation, and prevent further harm from being inflicted on our OFWs.

"These must start with an honest and candid acknowledgement of the crisis, a willingness to accept accountability and a conviction to do what is right,” she said on Friday.

“Our DFA is privileged to have a team of professional, competent, and committed career diplomats who undoubtedly have skills, insight, and experience to help navigate this current diplomatic dilemma successfully.

"The administration would do well to make full use of this invaluable resource. Together with doing what needs to be done to repair relations with Kuwait at the soonest possible time, we are hopeful the window of opportunity to salvage the planned Memorandum of Understanding with Kuwait, which promises to provide long-term protection of our workers there, has not yet closed.”

Diplomatic spat

Relations between Kuwait and the Philippines plummeted dramatically last month after Philippine officials boasted about clandestine operations to help house workers flee the home of their employers.

Staff from the Philippine embassy in Kuwait were instructed to carry out operations in which they used diplomatic vehicles to transport the workers to shelters.

Videos of the operations were posted online by Philippine officials who said they were helping “distressed” workers in urgent need of assistance.

However, Kuwait rejected the operations and said they were a breach of its laws and sovereignty and a violation of diplomatic norms.

Security officials arrested members of the Philippines diplomatic staff and seized two vehicles.

The Philippines later apologised in a damage control attempt, but an infuriated Kuwait declared Ambassador Renato Villa persona non grata and gave him one week to leave. He arrived on Wednesday night in the Philippines.

Should Cayetano resign

Several diplomats and at least one senator have called for Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to step down, accusing him of “gross incompetence and blunder that resulted in the expulsion of Ambassador Renato Villa and strained relations with Kuwait.”

However, Manila said there was no reason for Cayetano to resign.

“As far as the palace is concerned, there is no reason for him to resign,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

On Friday, Cayetano said Kuwait and the Philippines were successfully working on clarifying past miscommunication

“Our communications are bearing fruit, the hard work of our people in the embassy are bearing fruit, we are now processing the return of 800 at the shelter,” he said during a Department of Foreign Affairs event in Pasay City.

Cayetano said the efforts to resolve the issues of the 800 remaining Filipinos at the shelter, 120 pending rescue requests, detention of drivers, as well as the arrest warrants against Filipino diplomats were all “moving.”

“We do believe we can come up with a win-win solution that we don’t think our rights were violated at the same time the Kuwaitis will not think that we do not respect their domestic law,” Cayetano said, quoted by the Philippine News Agency.

Bello to visit Kuwait

Department of Labour and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III will be visiting Kuwait next week, he added

“We’re hoping that there’s breakthrough in the next few days so when he arrives, on the labour side, a breakthrough will be swift.”

However, before the signing of an agreement, Manila is asking Kuwait to allow the diplomats at the embassy to go home, to facilitate the repatriation of 800 OFWs and entertain a proposal to convict abusive employers.

“Both Kuwait and the Philippines will benefit once talks conclude, the agreement is binding and the standard employment contracts have been amended,” he said, quoted by the news agency.

Cayetano said once the issues are fixed, there will be an assessment of the mistakes made.

“Everyone is ready to take responsibility, including myself, so now, I’m not saying ‘don’t judge the DFA’, I’m saying, ‘allow us to do our job and then judge us’.”