Kuwait envoy leaves Manila amid DFA summon

MANILA, Philippines — Kuwaiti Ambassador Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaihk has left the Philippines after being recalled to his home country for consultations, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Thursday.

The DFA has summoned the Kuwaiti envoy after Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa was declared persona non grata in Kuwait and was given only a week to return to Manila.

The department was supposed to meet with Saleh to ask for an explanation why the Kuwaiti government reneged on the agreement reached with him during his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

"The Department believes that these acts are inconsistent with the assurances and representations made by the Kuwaiti Ambassador on the various concerns that were brought to his attention by Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano during their meeting," the DFA said.

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The DFA has handed a diplomatic note to the Embassy of Kuwait to convey surprise and displeasure following the dismissal of Villa, as well as the continued detention of Filipinos hired by the Philippine Embassy.

The department stressed that Saleh had assured Cayetano that Villa is welcome to stay in Kuwait until the end of his tour of duty.

Saleh also assured Cayetano that the Kuwaiti government "likes" the Philippine envoy very much.

"Given the current circumstances, the Department conveyed its wish to be clarified on the actions to be taken by the Government of Kuwait on the assurances given by the Ambassador to the Secretary," the DFA said.

During the meeting with Cayetano earlier this week, the Kuwaiti envoy had committed to measures ensuring the safety of Filipino workers such as strengthening Kuwait's 24/7 hotline to respond for assistance requests by Filipinos, establishing additional shelters and formulating mechanisms to ensure better coordination between the Philippine Embassy and Kuwaiti authorities.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry condemned the Philippine Embassy for its "flagrant and grave breach of rules and regulations that govern diplomatic action, where staff helped Filipina house helpers run away," state-run Kuwait News Agency reported.

The Kuwaiti government said that the rescue operations for distressed OFWs were a blatant violation of the State of Kuwait law, international covenants and charters.

The Philippine Embassy was also accused of intervening in state domestic affairs and meddling in jurisdictions of security apparatuses.

Citing the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Kuwaiti government claimed that the Philippine Embassy violated Provision 41 which "bars infringement on individuals' prerogatives and immunities, respecting states' laws and non-intervening in their local affairs."