PHL should take inspiration from Korean leaders in fixing row with Kuwait —Pimentel


Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Saturday said the Philippines should follow in the footsteps of the North and South Korean leaders in fixing the growing diplomatic row with Kuwait.
Pimentel said that despite the state of war between the two Korean countries, its two leaders were able to conduct a meeting, which later led to the forging peace.
"Kuha tayo inspirasyon sa Korea, state of war pa sila pero nag-uusap sila. Nag-e-exchange sila ng high level visits. Ganyan din dapat pag-aayos natin sa Kuwait," Pimentel said.
He added that high level visits would show Kuwait that ties with them is important to the Philippines.
"High level visits, kung kailangan si special envoy, gawin natin para makita nila na importante sila sa atin,' he said.
"We are in the state of friendly relations, so tuloy tuloy lang pag-uusap, tapos magpakita ng willingness magpadala ng high level delegation. Kung tatanggapin nila ipaalam sa kanila, ganun lang po 'yun," he added.
Lesson learned
Pimentel emphasized the need for coordination, pointing out that the government should not just be considering Philippine laws but the laws of where the OFWs are based.
"Number one, coordination kasi talaga tayo dapat. Kasi mahal natin ang ating mga OFW, pero...nasa ibang bansa sila, hindi lang Philippine law ang ating kino-consider, but [pati] 'yung law ng ibang lugar," he said.
He added that other countries have their own law enforcement and that the Philippines should coordinate with them or make use of them.
Pimentel also slammed the Filipinos' need to flaunt everything in the internet, especially matters involving other countries.
"Number 2, bakit kasi masyado tayo mahilig sa internet? Parang gustong gusto natin ipakita sa buong mudno kung ano ginagawa natin. Magandang lesson dito hindi lahat ng kilos, lalo na involving other countries, 'di lahat ng kilos kailangan ibalandra mo, kaya nga may state secret," he said.
"May mga sensitibong bagay na 'di masakit sa atin pero masasaktan ang iba. Let this be a lesson," he added.
Kuwait is a major labor destination for Filipinos in the Middle East, with over 250,000 currently working there, mostly as domestic helpers.
However, recent incidents of abuses against them, where some resulted to death, prompted the Philippine government to enforce a deployment ban on new hires earlier this year.
The Philippine Embassy recently conducted a series of rescue operations of Filipino workers allegedly abused by their employers.
Videos of the rescue mission, distributed to the Philippine media by the Department of Foreign Affairs, went viral online, enraging Kuwait, which accused Manila of violating international laws and its sovereignty. —Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News

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