Diplomats and other aliens as "persona non grata"
The declaration by the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry of our Ambassador Renato Villa as ''persona non grata'' and the action ordering him to leave Kuwait within one week is, notwithstanding our arguments to the contrary, a sovereign right of the host government, which felt insulted by the acts of our diplomats in entering private domains and ''rescuing'' Filipina maids who were allegedly in distress. No matter how we justify the action, we have transgressed upon the national dignity of Kuwait and added insult to our ''faux pas'' by uploading a video showing the ''rescue,'' thereby portraying Kuwait as a nation of oppressive employers sans any respect for human dignity of domestic helpers.
Similarly, we are in the process of deporting an Australian nun who the President described as having badmouthed the Philippines and portrayed the government as oppressive and high-handed against its citizens. On July 6, 2013, our Bureau of Immigration under PNoy, prevented a Dutch activist Thomas Beersom from leaving the country because evidence indicated that this arrogant alien berated a police officer that caused the policeman to burst into tears - an incident captured in video, uploaded through the internet, became viral, and the whole world expressed outrage against such undesirable alien. During the times of Miriam Defensor Santiago, while still Immigration commissioner, she cursed and berated on national TV a number of alien pedophiles. Those aliens were banned forever, and Lady Miriam became senator.
During the time of President Marcos, the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was ordered closed and all Filipino diplomats were directed to leave. Malaysia broke diplomatic ties because Ninoy Aquino, then a congressman, made an expose of the Jabida mission, alleging that Marcos was training a contingent of forces to attack Malaysia and take back Sabah. When I was assigned diplomat in Kuwait, I rescued a Filipina who was physically attacked by her foreign husband in front of the US Embassy. I asked her to come inside the Labor Attache's office and I protected her. The husband shouted at me, declaring that I could not do it in his country. I told him that his country ended at the gate. Our office is Philippine territory under international law, and I can have him arrested if and when he entered our offices. I was made to explain by the Kuwait Foreign Ministry but, when I presented my evidence, it was the husband who apologized.
On March 30, 2011, when I was in Kuwait as labor attache, Kuwait expelled the Iranian ambassador and two other Iranian diplomats for alleged spying. When I was travelling in the Kuwait-Iran border, I saw a convoy of armored vehicles driven by Filipinos, escorted by US planes and helicopters. I texted my friend in Malacañang and asked what was happening. The Kuwait government reprimanded me because what I did bordered on espionage. I was only concerned about the Filipinos because we never allowed our OFWs to enter Iran at that time. Well, good intentions are not enough: We must respect the sovereignty of our host government. We live there at the pleasure of their government, subject to international rules and protocol.
When in another country we should behave with proper decorum and behavior. We should not put the host country and the host government in bad light. That is simple good manners and right conduct. No less and no more.
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