AMID THE diplomatic row between the Philippines and Kuwait, President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday, April 28, revealed his intent to pull out all the Filipino workers from the Gulf nation.
Speaking before the Filipino community in Singapore, the President addressed Filipinos residing and working in Kuwait and appealed to them to return home.
“To all the Filipinos [in Kuwait], you go back to the Philippines,” Duterte said in his speech delivered Saturday night in Singapore.
“To all those who are in Kuwait, for those who are not really household helpers, I now appeal to your sense of patriotism, come home. Anyway, there are already many job opportunities in the Philippines,” he added.
Duterte's call came after the Kuwait government decided to expel Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa, detain at least four personnel of the Philippine embassy, and order the arrest of three Filipino diplomats.
Kuwait's latest actions stemmed from the move of the Philippine Embassy to rescue distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) directly from their employers' home, which supposedly violated its laws and sovereignty.
While he respects Kuwait's steps against his fellow Filipinos, Duterte said he “can no longer accept what is happening.”
“As a president of the nation, it behooves upon me to do something,” Duterte said. “I cannot just stand idly here. I have to do something.”
The President, however, clarified in his speech that he does not harbor ill-feelings toward the Kuwaiti government, saying that he is more grateful that it takes care of Filipinos who are currently in the host country.
Duterte said he arrived at such decision, as he felt that the Kuwait government does not like the "style of working" of his fellow Filipinos.
“I address myself to the Kuwaiti government and the people, thank you for helping my fellow countrymen all these years. It is a depth of gratitude that after all, you helped them. So I do not hold any grudge. I don't have any hatred and everything [towards] you,” he said.
“But if the presence of a Filipino, if it is a burden and you could no longer bear it, allow us to get them out,” the Philippine leader added.
Filipinos workers in Kuwait are currently numbered at 260,000.
Earlier, Duterte imposed a total ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait, amid Kuwaiti employers' reported inhumane treatment of Filipino domestic helpers, including Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer in February.
Following the supposed abuses of OFWs, the Philippines and Kuwait are planning to forge a bilateral agreement that seeks to protect Filipino migrant workers' rights.
In his latest speech, Duterte made no mention about the fate of the Philippines-Kuwait impending deal on the protection of OFWs. (SunStar Philippines)