19 November 2003 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople expressed his sense of deep personal outrage over the rape of a Filipina in Kuwait and said that the Department of Foreign Affairs will mobilize its resources to ensure the welfare of the victim and in ensuring the criminal accountability of the perpetrators.

"Our primary concern is the safety and welfare of the victim. On this issue, the victim is safe and has cooperated with Kuwaiti authorities. The authorities have the suspects in custody. We will provide the victim with every assistance, including the service of private legal counsel and rape crisis counselors, as she may require," the Secretary said.

"I have instructed Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, who has vast experience in the Middle East, to go to Kuwait to work with our Embassy and Kuwaiti authorities on this matter," Secretary Ople added.

The Secretary declined to reveal further details about the rape victim, saying that "in cases such as this, we do all we can to protect the honor and the privacy of the victim."

The Secretary said that the Department is closely coordinating this matter with the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.

"I have also asked the Charge d’Affaires of the Kuwaiti Embassy in Manila to come to the Department so I can convey to the Government of Kuwait our urgent and strong desire that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice. We will provide all the cooperation that the Kuwaiti Government might require in this matter," the Secretary said. END.