By Genalyn Kabiling
Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa is expected to get another government assignment following expulsion from the Gulf state, President Duterte said today.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ACE MORANDANTE/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President acknowledged that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are usually rotated in different diplomatic posts.
"Parang conveyor naman na pabalik siya. Saksak mo lang ‘yan siya diyan . I’m sure that there is a rotational thing there sa Foreign Affairs," he said during a press conference in Davao City early this morning.
"He will get back to some assignment. Kagaya ‘yung military, ita-transfer o ipatawag doon sa Aguinaldo. Maghintay ka lang. Ganun ‘yan eh. I’m sure some of their workers are also aging (Like the military,you'll be transferred or you'll be called to Camp Aguinaldo.Just wait and I'm sure some of their workers are also aging)," he added.
Kuwait recently declared Villa a persona non grata and gave him a week to leave the Gulf state amid a deepening diplomatic row over the treatment of Filipino workers there.
The expulsion of Villa after Kuwait protested the Philippine embassy's rescue of Filipino workers from their alleged abusive employers without coordinating with local authorities. A video of the rescue mission, released by the DFA, went viral online that earned the ire of Kuwait.
The Philippine government earlier said the action taken by Kuwait was deeply disturbing but remained hopeful the two nations could resolve their differences.