By Genalyn D. Kabiling
Overseas Filipino workers will be pulled out from Kuwait if another citizen dies in the Gulf state, President Duterte warned yesterday.
The President issued the warning as he appealed Kuwait to treat OFWs as “human beings with dignity” amid reports of widespread abuse and exploitation.
“One more incident about a woman, a Filipina worker being raped there, committing suicide, I am going to stop, I am going to ban. And I’m sorry, the Filipinos there, you can all go home,” the President said in a speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 before leaving for India.
“Tutal ‘pag na – nag-alis kayo lahat na mga Pilipino diyan, they will also be having a hell of a time adjusting to that,” he added.
The President said that he does not want to fight Kuwait, which he considers an ally, but asked the government to act against the abuses and ensure the protection of migrant workers. “Can I ask you now just to treat my countrymen as human beings with dignity?” he said.
“I do not want to fight with you. We need your help to improve our country,” he said, citing the contribution of OFW overseas remittances to local economic growth.
