DFA probes two more cases of gang-rape in Kuwait

Two more recent cases of gang-rape of three Filipinos are being investigated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Kuwait.

Citing reports from the Philippine Embassy, Foreign Affairs Blas Ople disclosed that one was raped by three Kuwaiti policemen on Nov. 14.

The victim is currently under the care of the Filipino Women’s Resource Center in the embassy, Ople said.

He added an earlier incident involved two Filipino women who were abducted by armed men and sexually abused at knifepoint.

Last week, a Filipino housemaid was also reported to have been gang-raped by nine Kuwaiti teenagers.

Ople expressed outrage over the incidents of sexual crimes and directed Undersecretary Rafael Seguis to personally coordinate efforts with the Kuwaiti authorities in prosecuting the suspects in the three cases.

Seguis was also tasked to assess the situation in Kuwait in terms of the protection of rights of the overseas Filipino workers.

Ople personally instructed Seguis to check whether embassy officials had acted swiftly in extending all assistance to the rape victims.

"Cases have been filed in court against the perpetrators of these sexual crimes. We respect the decision of the victims to keep their identities and the details of the crime private," Ople said.

Ople had summoned to the DFA Kuwaiti Charge d’ Affairs Nayef Al-Otaibi last Wednesday to personally convey the Philippine government’s deep concern over the rape cases.

"I received his assurance that his government will promptly look into these cases," Ople said.

Ople said the DFA is closely coordinating with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in extending assistance to the rape victims and ensuring the general welfare of Filipino migrant workers in Kuwait.

"The Philippine government is fully committed to the pursuit of justice on behalf of the victims of these heinous crimes," Ople said.

"I would like to reiterate my sense of outrage over these crimes and pledge to do all we can to defend their honor, to protect their welfare and security, and to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice," Ople said.

On the other hand, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. urged Ople to file a diplomatic protest against the Kuwaiti government.

Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, made the call as he personally condemned the spate of rape incidents on Filipino women in Kuwait.

"We can expect the number of rape victims to increase if our government will not be bold enough to take a strong legal action against the perpetrators of these atrocious crimes," he said.

Villar said the first victim was raped by four men in a private desert camp in Wafra area.

The second was raped by three Kuwaiti policemen at the Sabah Al Salem Police Station on Nov. 14.

The third and the fourth victims were snatched and raped at knifepoint in Julia on Nov. 10, Villar said.

Villar said DFA and DOLE officials should be aggressive in pursuing legal actions against the suspects, noting the crime occurred during the Ramadan, where sex is prohibited under the Muslim practice.

"The government should set aside the foreign policy of fear and show other countries that it can and will protect its nationals abroad," the senator said.

Villar stressed the Philippine government should sent a strong signal to countries with a big population of Filipino workers that it would pursue actions to protect its nationals. -With Jose Rodel Clapano