Cayetano: We're not blaming anyone on Kuwait fiasco

MANILA, Philippines — Denying reports of a shouting match with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano clarified that there was no one to blame over the diplomatic quarrel with Kuwait.

The STAR earlier reported that the two Cabinet members "shouted at each other" during an incident in Malacañang last week after Kuwait expelled Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa.

A source told The STAR that Bello and Cayetano "argued on who was to blame for the Kuwait fiasco."

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"We're not blaming anyone because we don't think we did anything wrong," Cayetano said in a press conference in Cebu City.

The Philippines' top diplomat stressed that there was nothing wrong in fighting for the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.

"First of all, we cannot engage in a shouting match because Secretary Bello does not shout and the president would not allow me to shout at my senior and someone that I respect," Cayetano said in Filipino.

Citing a report from ANC, Cayetano also clarified that the government never said that all Filipinos in Kuwait are being maltreated.

He stressed that the Philippine government is willing to provide assistance to Filipino workers, whether it is a small percentage or not.

"And three percent of household [service workers] in Kuwait is 4,800 people. We have seen pictures of abuses that you haven't seen," the DFA secretary said.

Cayetano, on the other hand, admitted that he and Bello have not always agreed on policies that's why they always have a monthly meeting.

"We've not always agreed, but we always sit down, we have a once-a-month meeting. And most of the time, he pays the bill, so why would I shout at him? He might charge me next time," Cayetano said.

Bello had also denied the report that he and Cayetano engaged in a shouting match over the diplomatic row with Kuwait.

“I supported the position of DFA [Secretary] Alan. In fact, my statement was that if I were in the shoes of Secretary Alan, I would have done the same thing,” Bello said.