Duterte to Kuwait, Middle East countries: ‘Treat my countrymen as human beings with dignity’

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte prepares to receive Former Poland President Lech Walesa as the latter paid a courtesy call on the President at Malacañan Palace on January 23, 2018. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to Kuwait government and other Middle Eastern countries on Wednesday to treat Filipino workers as “human beings” following the recent cases of deaths of migrant workers in Kuwait.

“Can I ask you now just to treat my countrymen as human beings with dignity,” Duterte said during his pre-departure speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“We are poor, we may need your help, but we will not do it at the expense of the dignity of the Filipino,” he added.

Duterte made the statement before leaving for his trip to India where he is set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-India Commemorative Summit and India’s Republic Day celebration.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has earlier suspended the processing of Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC) for deployment to Kuwait as the authorities investigates the death of seven Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered the suspension after Duterte said he is planning a total ban in the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait.

“We have lost about four Filipino women in the last few months. It’s always in Kuwait,” Duterte earlier said.

The President said that he would “never again” let another incident of rape and suicide would happen.

“I hope that you’d listen to me because I mean well, but I will never never again tolerate another incident of rape to the point of committing of suicide, jumping out the window. That is something the Filipino cannot stomach,” he said.

“If I can’t do something about it then there’s no reason for me to stay in this position any minute longer,” Duterte added.

Duterte stressed that Kuwait has been an ally of the Philippines and said that he does not want any quarrel to come to light.

“Kuwait has always been an ally. But please do something [about] it,” the President said.