The Kuwaiti government has freed four Filipino drivers arrested after the “uncoordinated” rescues of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the release of the drivers was part of deals secured with Kuwait, which also include the signing of a labor agreement on Friday, May 11 and the repatriation of 600 undocumented OFWs in Kuwait.
“It guaranteed that all remaining undocumented Filipinos (under 600), except for those with pending cases, will be allowed to go home. At least 150 of them will be joining the Philippine officials in returning to the Philippines,” Roque said.
Officials of the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry met with Roque, Labor Secretary Silvestre Belo III, former Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, Labor Attaché Rustico dela Fuente, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Kuwait Mohd Noordin Lomondot on Wednesday, May 9. .
“The Philippine delegation met officials from the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry where the Philippines and Kuwait look forward to the normalization of ties,” Roque said in a statement.
The four drivers were arrested following the release of a video showing the alleged uncoordinated rescues of OFWs spearheaded by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The Kuwaiti government claimed that the rescue operations were violations of its sovereignty.
