Mocha in ME to boost OFW morale — Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday defended the inclusion of controversial blogger Mocha Uson in the official delegation of President Duterte in the trip to the Middle East.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Uson’s presence in the delegation is essential in helping “boost morale and well-being” of Filipino workers abroad.

Abella said Uson is also an official of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

“She has a large following among the overseas Filipino communities, especially in the Middle East, and it is in their interest that she has come to help boost morale and well-being,” Abella said.

Duterte has arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a two-day state visit, Malacañang reported.

Philippine Airlines flight PR001, carrying the President and his delegation, landed at 9:43 p.m. local time (2:43 a.m. in Manila) at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, governor of Riyadh, and the Chief of Royal Protocol and Minister-in-Attendance Ali bin Nasser al-Ghafis, Minister of Labor and Social Development welcomed Duterte and his delegation.

Among the Philippine officials who greeted the President at the airport were Consul General and Chargé d’Affaires of the Philippine embassy Imelda Panolong, Consul-General Iric Arribas, Consuls Christopher Patrick Aro and Mary Jennifer Dingal and Vice Consuls Noel Rodriguez and Von Ryan Ferrera.

The President and the governor of Riyadh were ushered to the royal VIP lounge where the Crown Prince offered Duterte a cup of Arabic coffee as welcome drink.

Afterwards, Duterte and members of his delegation proceeded to the King Saud Guest Palace.

During his visit, the President is expected to meet King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other high-ranking Saudi officials, as well as the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia.

The trip aims to forge stronger partnerships with the Saudi government, both in the political and economic fronts, and strengthen the efforts for the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. 

In a related development, the 25 Filipino workers who were displaced from their employment in Saudi Arabia have agreed to come home by availing themselves of the amnesty program offered by the Saudi government. – With Sheila Crisostomo