Philippines asks Kuwait for explanations after expelling ambassador

The Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement that it has sent a diplomatic note to the Embassy of Kuwait asking for an explanation of the reasons for expelling the Philippines ambassador from the gulf country.

The foreign minister has also asked the Kuwaiti government to explain “the continued detention of four Filipino drivers employed by the Philippine embassy to participate in the rescue mission as well as the issuance of arrest warrants against three diplomatic personnel”.

Read: Kuwait asks Philippines ambassador to leave

The Kuwaiti decision came despite a formal apology offered by the Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary, Alan Peter Cayetano. Kuwait on Wednesday announced the Philippine ambassador persona non-grata and gave him one week to leave and recalled it ambassador to Manila for consultations.

The decision came after a video went viral on social media showing embassy staff rescuing Filipino domestic workers from allegedly abusive Kuwaiti employers.

Kuwait Deputy Foreign Minister, Khalid Al-Jarallah warned that Kuwait will have a firm and direct response to the embassy actions ​​if they continue, adding that reducing the Philippine mission is possible, but may not reach cutting  relations.

Earlier, the Philippine ambassador to Kuwait, Renato Villa  said the embassy has been involved in helping Filipina domestic workers flee their Kuwaiti employers for about a month.