President eyes trip to Kuwait for welfare of abused OFWs

President Duterte is planning to go to Kuwait so he could make a personal appeal to its government not to be oblivious of the plight of abused Filipino workers in the Arab nation and implore

on Kuwaiti officials to respect and protect their human rights like other expatriates.

Duterte made the statement on Friday night even as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to implement a total ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait on Monday.

According to Duterte, his plans to visit Kuwait stemmed from his meeting with the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh Wednesday.

While saying that he cannot divulge what was discussed during their closeddoor meeting, Duterte said that he is planning to going to the Gulf State to appeal about the plight of OFWs in Kuwait.

Just yesterday, the President fumed at the Kuwaiti government over the death of Joanna Daniela Dimapilis, a Filipino domestic helper whose body was found inside a freezer in an apartment which was abandoned for more than a year.

“Pero may plano ako to plead my case there, before them. Kailangan ’yan eh (But I have a plan to plead my case before them. That is necessary),” Duterte told the media in Davao City late Friday.

He expressed disappointment on the Kuwaiti government about the abuses Filipino workers are experiencing from their employers in the Gulf State.

The President also said how the Philippines has always been ready to protect Kuwait from Iraq and expressed how come the Kuwaiti government is unable to protect OFWs there.

“But because of our desire to protect you Kuwait in the future, from Iraq, because Iraq was bent on getting you as part of their territory, we, at that time, during the invasion, considering you and the danger of weapons of mass destruction and verily at the behest of the American government, we were deployed in the Middle East using your country and you saw the workers, the doctors, and the nurses, and other medical personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

“We lost about… (no number given), wounded seriously three of our citizens fighting for the cause of the peace in the Middle East focused on the fear of your government that you will be invaded again,” he added.

“We went there. We were enthusiastic. We were fought to protect your interest. We did not fail you. O how come my countrymen are now suffering brutality, cruelty, and death? And you seem to be oblivious about it,” he continued.

According to Duterte, In Kuwait alone, in 2016, there were 82 reported deaths of OFWs. In 2017, the number reportedly increased to 103.

“When will this inhuman treatment of our Filipino workers end? When will the upliftment of their human dignity begin? To the Kuwaiti government and all others where our OFWs work, we seek and expect your assistance in this regard,” he said.

“We do not seek special treatment or privileges for our workers, but we do expect respect for their dignity and basic human rights. Keep them free from harm. I implore you,” he added.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he recommended to Duterte to continue with the suspension of the processing and issuance of new Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) until they have discovered or determined the true causes of the death of seven OFWs in December, 2017 and January, 2018.

“I also suggested to our President that in order to lift the suspension, the Kuwaiti government should already sign the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that has been pending with them for the last three years,” he said.

Bello was referring to the MOU that provides for additional protection for our overseas workers in Kuwait. But since Duterte already made up his mind to keep the ban, he said the Labor Department will support the President's decision.

Raul Francia, DOLE information and publication service director, said Bello will issue the formal order on the deployment ban on Monday.

“The secretary will issue an order on Monday banning deployment of OFWs to Kuwait,” he said in an interview.

“What was issued before by the Secretary was just a suspension,” added Francia.

He did not provide other details as to who will be covered by the total ban saying the labor chief will clarify this on the said date.

Ban supported Senators backed Duterte in upholding the deployment ban to Kuwait as they condemned the killing anew of an OFW whose body was found inside a freezer.

Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, condemned the killing of Joanna Dimapilis was discovered inside a freezer in an apartment in Kuwait that has been abandoned by her employers for about year.

“We strongly condemn the brutal killing of another Filipina whose body was discovered in a freezer where it may have been kept for over a year. How many more are being brutalized?” Villanueva said in a statement.

“We are outraged by this latest horrible crime against our overseas Filipino workers,” he added.

Villanueva proposed to stop sending OFWs “where they are not being treated properly.”

“We support the President’s call to continuously ban the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait. Our primary concern should be the lives and safety of our workers. We should not wait for another OFW to die for us to act on this,” Villanueva said.

Senator Cynthia Villar, who also advocates the protection of OFWs and their rights, said it is only fitting to halt the deployment of Filipinos in “countries where they will only be abused.” In radio interview Saturday, Villar said she “agrees” with the President in imploring Kuwaiti government to act on the deaths Filipina domestic workers in the hands of their employers.

She, meanwhile, believes that there is no need to work abroad since “many opportunities await” Filipino workers in the Philippines.

Villar noted that Kuwait has a “different culture” that may have resulted to the maltreatment of Filipinas in their country.

Even the Philippine Association of Accredited Agencies to Kuwait (PHILAAK) backed the President’s decision.

Ms. Amanda Araneta, president of PHILAAK, said they also support the decision of the Chief Executive to repatriate OFWs in the said country who are in distress situations and want to return home to be with their families.

She revealed that they are actually in the process of formulating a set of policy and other recommendations to the administration regarding the welfare of OFWs.

“So that the Duterte administration will have additional options on how to save our fellow Filipinos from slavery and human trafficking and be more effective in the delivery of services to OFWs not just in Kuwait but worldwide,” said Araneta in a statement.

“We will present these recommendations to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III soon so we can give him our best advice for the welfare of OFWs,” she added.

Their group, Araneta said is already coordinating with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

“We are advocating for unity among all recruitment agencies and their adherence to a common standard of best and responsible practices throughout the industry,” she said. (With reports from Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola and Leslie Ann G. Aquino)