Impasse?
Will there be a resolution to the current rift between the Philippines and Kuwait? What Philippine officials are insisting as a misunderstanding is being seen as a crime by Kuwaiti officials. Kuwait cut off water and electricity to the home of former ambassador Renato Villa. Perhaps to drive home their declaration of him as persona non grata. Villa is back in the country. He has no regrets, short of saying he is not sorry for what happened. DFA Secretary Cayetano also insists that no crime was committed in the rescue of distressed OFWs, saying the welfare and safety of our countrymen is above everything else. He also claims that talks are ongoing and that an understanding may soon be attained by both countries.
This is indeed the position of the administration. No crime was committed. No one is arguing that the safety and welfare of Filipinos abroad is important, but according to many, there is a violation of the Vienna Convention for Diplomatic Relations. If Kuwait or another country like the US were to rescue their countrymen without coordinating with Philippine authorities, what would the DFA or the Palace say? I can actually visualize someone going ballistic, if it ever happened. We always hear from the administration that no country has the right to interfere or meddle in our internal affairs. Are we now guilty of a double standard? Do we now tell Kuwait that no crime was committed on their soil?
There are still warrants of arrest for three Philippine Embassy employees who are accused by Kuwaiti officials of kidnapping. But since Cayetano insists no crime was committed, he believes that makes the warrants invalid, along with the fact that they have diplomatic immunity. The subjects of these warrants are currently holed up inthe Philippine Embassy. I guess they can't do anything but wait for things to be sorted out diplomatically. I doubt if we can pull off an "Argo" scenario. Their faces are supposedly plastered all over Kuwait's airports, thanks to the video that was really done in poor taste. Bravado gone wrong.
I truly hope the problems are sorted out soon. As of today, whatever agreement between the two countries with regards to the protection of OFWs is in limbo. A ban on Filipino workers being deployed to Kuwait stays. With both countries seeming to take a hard stance, I will not hold my breath. There are more than 200,000 Filipinos still working in the gulf state. If the OFW-employer situation in Kuwait is bad, then by all means they should all heed President Duterte's call to come home, care of the Philippine government. Duterte also said he will look for jobs for them. Are there jobs waiting for them in China and Russia? Do they want these jobs? Or is he going to provide, in the meantime, a minimum daily subsistence similar to that of Boracay's residents and workers? These will be the things on the minds of OFWs, as they make a beeline back home.
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